Wayne Mohring of Norfolk, NE is the pilot of Wild Goose, a 2003 National AX-8 (90,000 cu.ft.).  Wayne and Janet designed the balloon's pattern, but didn't have a name chosen until Wayne saw the registration number, 9005E.  Handwritten, the number resembled the word "goose" and the name was born.  Naturally, this makes Janet the leader of the "Wild Goose Chase." 

Wayne is a commercial pilot who started ballooning in 1981 when an out-of-state pilot recruited him as crew at a rally.  He earned his private pilot's certificate in 2003, and his commercial wings in February of 2006.  (See Wayne's checkride story in the Pilot's Corner.)  When not ballooning, Wayne is a hospital director, husband, and father of son Mark, age 14, and is Wayne's "Fan Man."

While Wayne admits to having a minor fear of heights, he says "ballooning is completely different.  Although standing too close to the rim of the Grand Canyon, or looking over a bridge railing high above the river is unsettling, in a balloon basket at treetop level or at over 13,000 feet I am comfortable in the basket because there is no relative movement with the wind or any other force to cause vertigo.  Most of my flights take place between 500 and 2000 feet, but I find it just as enjoyable skiming the tree tops or waving at a passing fixed-wing pilot at 5000 feet."

One of Wayne's favorite places to fly is down the Elkhorn River valley in northeast Nebraska, with its abundance of wildlife.  On one New Year's Eve day flight they saw over 100 deer and 2 bald eagles.  On a training flight in late winter, Wild Goose joined thousands of migrating geese, "the sight and sound of which was absolutely unbelievable."  He also enjoys flying over small- and medium-sized towns because of the excitement it generates, as well as attending rallies for the competition and opportunity to see other balloons from a different perspective. 

As a commercial pilot, Wayne offers experiences like these (every flight is different) to those wanting a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, flight training to prepare for many years of your own experiences, and even advertising, as Wild Goose is equipped to do banner flights.  Wayne says that his 2 decades of crew experience for dozens of pilots have enabled him to incorporate a couple of "new" techniques that no other pilot does to make the experience a little less like work and more like fun.  He won't reveal what these are, saying "you'll just have to find out for yourself by calling for a ride or just a desire to crew."

Contact Wayne at:
(402) 841-4975
or wmohring@aol.com

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Last updated 6:40 PM 4/7/2008.   Contact webmaster with questions or comments about this site.