×

Balloonfest sees visitors despite dreary weather

HUGHESVILLE — The clouds were low but the spirits of the volunteers manning the 2019 “Balloonfest, Air Show and So Much More” were high as people continued to file into the Lycoming County Fair grounds to take in all that was offered at this year’s event, in spite of the weather.

Umbrellas came out as sudden bursts of rain fell on the array of food vendors situated along the track winding around the fair grounds. Due to the rain and the low cloud ceiling by midday there were no balloons in the air either free-floating or tethered, and airplanes waited until the weather cleared to take off.

“I’m actually quite impressed,” said Sandy Spencer, chairman of the event, when asked if attendance was down because of the weather. “I look out every once in a while at the parking lot and I also looked at the BMX bleachers when that started and it seemed like it didn’t hold people away as much.”

In its 13th year, the air show is like Rotary’s gift to the community, according to Spencer.

“It is for Rotary awareness and to do something nice in the community,” she said.

In addition to the airborne performances, the show featured ATV races and puppet and magic shows as well as a heavy equipment rodeo.

“We try to add something new every year. Last year we added the heavy equipment rodeo, which was really popular. We expanded that this year — we have more equipment, more sponsors, and we opened it up to any age group that can participate, not just be part of the rodeo,” she added.

At the heavy equipment area, three pieces of construction equipment were set up to test the skills of the competitors in the rodeo.

Cody Alexander, the second in command at the heavy equipment site explained the three stages of the competition.

“On the one excavator, there is a spoon taped to the bucket and we have a golf ball in the sandbox and you have to try to pick the golf ball up with the spoon and dump into a pipe. You have to finesse onto a tablespoon. It’s very hard,” Alexander said.

The other two stages include removing soccer balls from cones situated around another excavator, picking them up and dropping them into a trash can and also placing two softballs, attached by a string to a backhoe, into a pipe.

“Kids” young and old participate in the rodeo.

“We’ve had a couple of kids three and four years old and we’ll coach them through it,” he said, adding that kids that young just do the skill test with the soccer balls.

Children were also drawn to an Army “Huey” helicopter, climbing aboard the aircraft to try their hand at the controls.

“They’re amazed by all the controls,” said Bill Mullen, a Vietnam veteran who travels with the helicopter to various shows. “In order to fly this both of your feet were busy, your hands were busy and there was a lot of chatter, when you fly a combat mission, in your headset. All those were going on. Kids are just amazed. Not just little kids, adults and big kids love it,” he added.

Another attraction was the radio-controlled model airplane display and demonstration by Wings of Williamsport, a group of model airplane enthusiasts who enjoy flying their planes in the Linden area.

Kevin Ziegmann, contest director for the group, shared that he had been introduced to the hobby when he was two years old and is still enjoying it 46 years later.

“My mom got my dad and I into it as something we could do as a father-son thing. It’s a nice hobby. I have great friends in the hobby. We hang out together. We do things together as friends. It’s nice camaraderie as well as being able to enjoy aeronautics,” Ziegmann said.

Greg Bell, whose wife works at Lycoming Engines, one of the sponsors of the show, said that he and his daughters, Annie and Marie, come to the show every year.

“Usually they get to go up in a balloon, which is cool,” Bell said. “We like to take in different aeronautical stuff. They seem to be making this event bigger and bigger each year. I like to see the guys jump from the air, especially if they’re able to bring down the big American flag. Anything they do up in the air is cool to see. “

Annie who is nine, has been up in a helicopter, which she deemed “very fun.” Her sister, Marie, who is five, has taken a ride in a hot air balloon, which she “loved,” all except the fire needed for the hot air.

High flying aeronautics were on the bill for later in the day when 25 members of the Paradigm aerobatic team were scheduled to take to the air in their powered paragliders.

Noting that they have flown in shows throughout the country, Eric Farewell, a member of the group said, “We love to share our love for aviation, both fixed wing and powered paragliders.”

Farewell said his group had arrived in the area Tuesday and had visited local schools to share with them their sport.

“A paramotor is a 25 to 28 horsepower engine on your back that allows you to run into the sky,” Farewell said. “Our paragliders give us between 35 and 55 miles per hour, fully aerobatic. The sport is as safe as you make it. You dawdle around and cruise the fields and be safe or you can do something high energy like you’ll see here tonight.”

He noted that the group has performed before huge crowds, but was really drawn to the air show here.

“We were invited to 29 air shows this year and Lycoming was the 30th. They contacted us well after everybody else, but they told us we could play with the balloons. They were the nicest people. We came to this show, 22 hours of driving, because the people here are incredible and we’ve had the most incredible time just hanging out with the sponsors. The originators of the event are just great people,” Farewell added.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today