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Balloon Glow, Stunt Teams Headline Air Show

Posted on: Friday, 24 March 2006, 09:01 CST

By Maggie Large, The Macon Telegraph, Ga.

Mar. 24--Keep your eyes on the sky if you're heading out to Herbert Smart Airport on Saturday.

From around 6:30 a.m. to dusk, a series of hot-air balloons, stunt planes, military helicopters and skydivers will take to the skies as part of the Cherry Blossom Balloon Fest & Airshow.

Earlybirds can watch 20 balloons take flight in the morning for a competition.

"If people are up having their coffee Saturday morning, they can look outside and see the balloons flying around downtown Macon," said Wright Tilley, CEO of the Cherry Blossom Festival.

What used to be two separate events -- the Balloon Glow and the Airshow -- are combined this year for a day full of airborne delights. Along with the usual complement of colorful balloons, there will also be special shapes this year, including Humpty Dumpty, a sea serpent and a daisy.

Following the early morning launch, pilots from the area will be flying in all morning with standard and experimental aircraft. Starting at 11 a.m., five stunt teams will ascend to the skies to entertain.

"For the third year, we've got the Flying Farmer, Charlie Culp, who's in his 80s," Tilley said.

Culp doesn't just fly a Piper Cub -- he also does a comedy routine. Talk about a renaissance man.

In addition to the planes, there will also be a contingent of military helicopters, Tilley said.

"Army aviation will have three Hueys and a Cobra, as well as a C-7 Caribou helicopter that you see carrying troops," Tilley said.

If you've got other plans during the day, the airshow will have a twilight program starting at 5:40 p.m., which leads right into the Balloon Glow.

"We expect a great crowd because it's going to be an action-packed afternoon," Tilley said.

Saturday

What: Cherry Blossom Balloon Fest & Airshow

When: 6:30 a.m. to sundown

Where: Herbert Smart Airport, 2725 Herbert Smart Airport Rd., Macon

Cost: $5; children under 12 free

Phone: 751-7429

Web: www.cherryblossom.com [http://www.cherryblossom.com]

To contact Maggie Large, call 744-4229 or e-mail mlarge@macontel.com [mailto:mlarge@macontel.com]

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Macon Telegraph, Ga.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: The Macon Telegraph (Macon, Ga.)

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