KTAB 4u Reunites With Sunny-D-Lite Crew For Big Country Balloon Fest
By: Alex Hayes
Updated: September 27, 2012
From bull riding to climbing walls, games, and much more, there is no end to the activities at this year's Big Country Balloon Fest. But of course the main attraction will be the dozen or more pilots and crew that take to the sky to soar over the Key City in their colorful balloons.
Last year, Alex Hayes got a chance to fly through the air for the very first time with the Sunny-D-Lite crew, piloted by Ron McKinney. This year the whole crew is back for the 2012 Big Country Balloon Fest.
"We love this town, love this town," says McKinney, "this is really a good event and it's the people here in Abilene that do that."
McKinney has been piloting the big air balloons for over a decade but for him, every time he gets a chance to go up in the air is a welcomed retreat, especially when it comes to flying with the newbies.
"It's just the awe of seeing your city from the air, how different it actually looks," explains McKinney.
It's an experience that takes a lot of work to create, especially for crew members like Nathan Ashley.
"As soon as it comes off of the trailer till we actually take off, for our balloon it takes around 30 minutes," he explains.
And it's another half hour to get the balloon packed up after landing. In all the whole flight lasts about an hour and both crew members agree, it's worth the short wait to get things moving just for that experience of floating one more time.
Connect Big Country Balloon Fest:
Sponsored by Optimist Unlimited
Saturday, September 29th
Red Bud Park
Find them on Facebook!
Twitter: @OCBCBF
Last year, Alex Hayes got a chance to fly through the air for the very first time with the Sunny-D-Lite crew, piloted by Ron McKinney. This year the whole crew is back for the 2012 Big Country Balloon Fest.
"We love this town, love this town," says McKinney, "this is really a good event and it's the people here in Abilene that do that."
McKinney has been piloting the big air balloons for over a decade but for him, every time he gets a chance to go up in the air is a welcomed retreat, especially when it comes to flying with the newbies.
"It's just the awe of seeing your city from the air, how different it actually looks," explains McKinney.
It's an experience that takes a lot of work to create, especially for crew members like Nathan Ashley.
"As soon as it comes off of the trailer till we actually take off, for our balloon it takes around 30 minutes," he explains.
And it's another half hour to get the balloon packed up after landing. In all the whole flight lasts about an hour and both crew members agree, it's worth the short wait to get things moving just for that experience of floating one more time.
Connect Big Country Balloon Fest:
Sponsored by Optimist Unlimited
Saturday, September 29th
Red Bud Park
Find them on Facebook!
Twitter: @OCBCBF
