Macon Cherry Blossom Airshow/Balloon Festival
This spring time event was held at the Downtown Herbert Smart Field on March 29, 2008. The cherry blossoms were just beautiful but I can’t say the same thing for the weather. The day started blistering hot, umbrellas were out in numbers and people who had come with long pants and shirts were really looking uncomfortable. By the time the show started at 3 p.m. the wind had picked up and by 4 p.m. came the threat of bad weather. Since I had my family and granddaughter with me we packed up and headed home, driving through scattered raindrops.
The aircraft that were able to fly were outstanding as usual. Larry King performed for the crowd in Keith Campbell’s Pitts model 12. Greg Connell performed in his Pitts S2. Greg has a 500 foot limit but is showing some fine acrobatic talent. The eight team RV’s performed some great formation flying. These small aircraft really put on a show for the crowd. The local Forestry Departments’ Huey made water drops to show how they could put out forest fires, if ever the need arose. The CAF’s “Red Nose” P-51 Mustang, the Kate torpedo plane, and their C45 Expediter took to the air and made several great photo passes for the crowd. As the airboss Bob Hamilton was recovering the warbirds, the weather showed its ugly head, like the old saying goes, “In like a Lamb out like a Lion.” Gary Ward was warming his MX2 up and had to shut it down because of the wind. I also missed Mike Mangold perform; this Red Bull champion is a great acrobatic performer.
Hugh Oldham’s new speakers made a huge difference in the quality of the air show sound. The crowd could enjoy Hugh’s announcing from any angle of the field.There were many attractions for the kids to enjoy along with the Budweiser’s Clydesdales. The Clydesdales are such giant animals, graceful thoroughbreds, displaying precision movements that would rival a B-17 Flying Fortress.
There was a variety of food which was priced with a family in mind. There were chicken strips, fries, pulled pork, Greek specialties, hamburgers, hot dogs, kielbasa with all the fixings and many types of cold drinks. The Cherry Blossom Air show knows how to pick their local venders. I enjoy the two-hour drive to Macon every spring, because of all the beautiful trees, bushes and flowers that are in bloom; it looks like a little slice of heaven. (Just ignore the pollen) One of these years the weather gods are going to look down at Macon’s’ Cherry Blossom Air show and say, “let there be perfect weather for this event,” and there will be, so meet me there same place next year.
By Carl Wilcox