PILOT BIOS

Fred Gorrell - FAA Examiner - Total Years: 31

Long-time owner of Unicorn Balloons, Fred has virtually "done it all", compiling a remarkable flying career that began with airplanes in 1963 (over 10,000 hours). He added flying Hot Air and Gas balloons in 1974. Fred sold the company to Bruce Wellens a few years ago. Fred earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World records when he flew a helium balloon from California to Georgia in 1981 - setting the Trans-America crossing record. He has also flown hydrogen balloons in Europe, placing 2nd in the 1990 Gordon Bennett race: a flight from Austria to Yugoslavia. Fred also conquered the continental divide in Colorado in a small gas balloon. With Unicorn operations in Aspen, CO and Scottsdale, AZ, Fred treasures introducing his passengers and seeing their reactions to the thrill of being FREE OF THE EARTH. Fred flies the REMAX and METRIS balloons and is the Federal Aviation Administration flight examiner, a role in which he has said, "Congratulations, pilot!" to over 250 excited students.

John Bagwell - Total Years: 30

A full-time professional balloonist, John has loved flying since 1975, completing 13 flight logbooks. Licensed in both Hot Air and Gas balloons, he began flying commercially in 1982, and has now flown over 35,000 passengers, including celebrities like President and Betty Ford, Michael Douglas and Claire Booth Luce. John loves to teach his passengers about the balloon, landmarks and wildlife as well as introducing them to a whole new experience. After joining Unicorn in 1985, John graduated to flying the big ride balloons. John enjoys honing his piloting skills by flying many different size of balloons and flying over 300 days each year. Chief Pilot John has the distinction of flying all 21 Unicorn balloons, including the newest one.

Mark Fosburg - Total Years: 24

In addition to flying passengers, Mark is the company Balloon Operations Manager and is responsible for maintaining equipment and training crew personnel. Taught by two other company pilots, he has flown the Unicorn balloons and others over 20 years. Flying in a crowd is no problem for this eight-year Albuquerque Fiesta veteran. "I like taking people up," Mark says, "Sharing a new experience with them." In his spare time, he likes to fly his personal balloon, "Sunrise".

Terry Cleaveland - Total years: 11

For the past 11 years Terry has been flying the Colorado circuit. Terry started his career as a glider pilot and then moved into ballooning when looking for more of a challenge. "I love flying. The mornings in Colorado Springs always offer an interesting flight experience. Some days we fly over a 727 taking off and others we're skimming the rock in Castle Rock." Terry flys for fun as ballooning is just a hobby... his real career keeps him busy selling eye glasses to the blind folks of Colorado Springs at Town and Country Optical. His third job and favorite hobby is being a DAD six times over.

Greg Wellens - Total years: 4

Our youngest pilot and owner of the company, Greg has been flying for 4 years and has been chasing balloons in the family business for 32 years. Greg loves flying in all the locations served by Adventures Out West.

On his off days, Greg preferes to be testing the limits of hot air balloons including flying to 21,000 feet and hops over Pikes Peak. Greg says, "Fun, fun, fun chasin' balloons in the sun. See you in the air."