ANONYMOUS - Michael R. Layman

A retired US Marine, he had spent six years as a helicopter crew chief and had obtained a license to fly fixed-wing airplanes in the seventies. He had tried parachutes and has jumped onto five of the Hawaiian Islands. But it was ballooning that really captured his interest.

Mike learned to fly balloons in California and worked awhile for Professor Muldoon’s Balloon Company flying passengers on scenic flights. Later, he moved to Yakima, Washington and started his own company, Teenie Weenie Airlines. Now, Mike has moved back to his hometown of Portland and flies for pleasure and fun. He also flies from time to time for the Portland Rose Balloon Company and for Pacific Peaks Balloon Company. He attends many of the balloon rallies in the Northwest and has attended rallies in Canada where he flew at the Abbottsford International Air Show.

Mike Layman is the pilot of the new balloon, ANONYMOUS. This balloon, a Balloon Works Firefly AX-8b was built especially for The Travel Channel program, “Made in America.” It appeared on national television April 5, 2005 and the program will rerun from time to time.