Rich Jaworski has a PhD in Nuclear Engineering and is a registered nuclear
engineer. He retired in 2004 after 35 years of service at OPPD. Rich is a Distinguished Aeronaut with the Balloon Federation of America and has been state champion with the Nebraska Balloon Club multiple times. He has served as president of the Nebraska Balloon Club in 2003-2004 and is on the records review committee for the
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. This international balloon organization will also be reviewing and
certifying his record-breaking attempt. Jaworski earned his bachelor’s, masters and doctoral degrees at Iowa State
University and settled in Blair in 1970. He has been a judge for the Fort Calhoun science fair for over 30 years.
Rich has a long history of using his balloon talents to benefit charitable organizations, raising over $120,000 in his 35 years of ballooning experience. His science and engineering background, along with a family history of heart disease, have led him to take a strong interest in raising funds for heart disease research in Nebraska and Iowa.
Brad Temeyer is a graduate of Iowa State University, and a professional meteorologist and student hot air balloon pilot from Sioux Falls, SD. For nearly a decade, Brad has provided weather briefings for balloon events all across the Midwest, and recently participated in his first international event. He has drafted numerous articles relating weather to ballooning, and has also spoken at several safety seminars.
Orvin Olivier has served as NAA (National Aeronautic Association) Observer for numerous record flights. A balloon pilot for over 30 years, Orv is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Balloon Federation of America.
Bruce Comstock has been deeply involved in ballooning for more than 35 years as (among other things) a designer, manufacturer, balloon organization leader, and instructor. He has set world balloon records for duration, distance and altitude, including the first hot air balloon flight of more than a full day. In recognition of Bruce’s remarkable ballooning career, the International Aeronautic Federation (FAI) in 2001 named him to the world Ballooning Hall of Fame. Comstock designed and built the electronic balloon autopilots that make very long distance solo balloon flights possible, including Steve Fossett’s solo round the world balloon flight.
Matthew Grote learned to fly balloons with Rich as his instructor, and flies a balloon formerly owned by Rich. Matthew has been a member of the Adventure of the Heart crew since 2005, and had driven the chase vehicle on each of the two previous record-setting flights. Matthew is a commercial balloon pilot from Omaha.
Wayne Mohring started ballooning in 1981 when an out-of-state pilot recruited him as crew at a rally. A resident of Norfolk, NE, Wayne earned his private pilot's certificate in 2003, and his commercial rating in February, 2006.
Gary Hendrickson resides in Blair, is a retired Air Force intelligence officer, Elkhorn, NE math teacher, and good friend who has provided good hands whenever something was needing to be done on this project. Gary will manage the procedure at the launch site and tell some good jokes during the chase. He leaves for Florida next week to play golf.
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Latest update 6:06 PM 1/18/2008.