
DATE: Sunday, April 13, 1997                TAG: 9704130040

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LOUIS HANSEN, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   85 lines

WET, WINDY DAY DEFLATES SUFFOLK'S BALLOON FESTIVAL

It was a blustery, gray dawn at Suffolk Municipal Airport on Saturday as a dozen crew members tugged on ropes and leaned on a broad wicker basket to steady a hot-air balloon shaped like a giant lizard.

A 3-foot fan blew cold air into the six-story behemoth, named Norman, trying vainly to puff it up for an eager television crew.

Gusts of 12-mph wind rocked and rolled the wispy lizard, making the half-inflated balloon too unwieldy for crew members. They shut off the fan.

Six Canada geese, in a loose V-formation, swooped low over the sunken nylon Norman, then veered right up over the runway.

But for the humans below, one word loomed over Suffolk's inaugural balloon fest: grounded.

Although organizers expected to feature about 40 flying balloons for this year's inaugural Spring Spectacular, the weather has not cooperated. Only one balloon has flown untethered from the airport since the three-day festival began Friday.

Despite organizers' hopes, the festival will not draw the 200,000 visitors that Suffolk's three-day fall event, the Peanut Festival, does.

Event Chairman Wayne Smith said he was disappointed with the turnout so far, which he estimated to be several thousand.

A few dozen shutterbugs and balloon-lovers enjoyed the sunrise, if not the flying.

Penny Rucker of Portsmouth recalled the first time she saw aballoon. It landed in her father's pasture.

``The cattle were running all over the place, and we heard this big woooosh,'' she said. ``I was hooked.''

Winds that gust over 9 mph make it difficult to inflate a balloon, said Rene Meier, organizer of the events. Ideal conditions are with winds between 5 and 7 mph.

Veteran pilots said the ballooning season at this latitude usually starts a few weeks later, around May 1. The Spring Spectacular is one of the earliest hot-air balloon festivals in the region.

Some pilots just shrugged their shoulders at the whims of Mother Nature.

``This is ballooning - you get out, and you sit and you wait,'' said pilot Jim Hendershot, who drove his balloon and crew up from South Carolina.

By Saturday afternoon, the wind was accompanied by rain. Umbrella sales were almost as brisk as barbecue pork sandwiches.

``My hottest sellers are the umbrella hats,'' said vendor Donna Campbell, modeling the $5 minicontraption.

Many found other activities to keep them busy in the rain. Shoppers ducked in and out of craft and gift stands while aviation buffs watched what air show the weather permitted.

Eric Luker said he was disappointed to not see the balloons, but he was glad he drove in from Virginia Beach with his two daughters, Kelly, 2, and 5-year-old Hanna.

The girls rode the Dragon Wagon roller coaster and watched the dancers. ``They're enjoying it,'' Luker said, as they squirmed in their double stroller.

``Perhaps,'' said Meier, ``tomorrow morning will be better.''

This afternoon will feature a free concert by country music star Tracy Lawrence, a car show, and, weather permitting, balloon flights. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

JOHN H. SHEALLY II

Brian Koch holds lines attached to Norman the lizard at the Spring

Spectacular, a hot-air balloon show at Suffolk Municipal Airport.

Graphic

TODAY`S EVENTS

Free concert

Country music star

Tracy Lawrence

Car show

Balloon flights

Weather permitting

See Page B3