BALLOONS KICK OFF AIR SHOW SUNDAY

Residents in a Cape Girardeau neighborhood got a surprise when a hot-air balloon landed in their quiet cul-de-sac Friday evening.

The Caribbean Fire, piloted by Jerry Robinson of Little Rock, Ark., touched down at the corner of Dover and Plymouth at about 8 p.m.

Robinson was one of 11 balloonists who launched Friday from the New Life World Outreach Church near Sprigg and Bertling. The balloon launch marked the kickoff of the 1998 Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival, which continues today and Sunday.

The balloonists didn't launch from the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport because there is too much air traffic.

Robinson has been flying for about nine years, including eight with crewmate and girlfriend Chyrl Bohannon.

A crowd gathered to follow the balloons' progress over the city. Cars were pulled over on Perryville Road and Cape Rock Drive as motorists stopped to watch the balloons.

About 60 people gathered at Robinson's landing site. As soon as the balloon was tethered, Robinson began giving free rides to neighborhood residents.

The cardinal rule of landing the balloon, according to Robinson, is to avoid cemeteries and sewer treatment plants.

Other than that, he likes landing on streets, provided they aren't too heavily traveled, because the balloon doesn't get as wet.

Schoolyards are his favorite landing spots. The students quickly run to greet him, and even the principals don't stay angry for long.

Felicia Ayers and her son Devin, 5, followed Robinson's balloon from near Arena Park to the landing site.

"We noticed it coming down, so we followed it," she said.

Robinson flew about six miles and was in the air for just over a half-hour.

Bohannon followed Robinson in their tracking van, making frequent stops to check his progress visually and by radio contact.

"I have to stop a lot," Bohannon said.

The balloonists gathered first at the Victorian Inn in Cape Girardeau to send up a pie ball, or helium-filled test balloon. By measuring the pie ball's progress, balloonists can figure the wind direction velocity.

Then it was off to the church to launch, and within about 20 minutes most of the balloons were up, up and away.

Most balloonists prefer to fly at altitudes of 1,000 to 1,500 feet, said balloonmeister Mike Bien, who piloted the Missouri Division of Tourism balloon, the Missouri.

Bien and his wife, Carolyn, have been ballooning for 14 years, including the last 10 for the state.

Flying over cities can be "a little tricky," Bien said.

"We want to go in light winds, but you still have to get enough wind to get over the city," he said.

It's also important to look out for power lines, utility poles and other obstructions along the route.

For most balloon pilots, 8 mph is the maximum flying speed, Bien said.

Rain earlier in the afternoon made the balloonists and air festival organizers a little nervous. Airport manager Bruce Loy was keeping a worried eye on the skies Friday afternoon.

Bad weather delayed the arrival of several aircraft scheduled to perform today and Sunday, but Loy said Friday most of the planes should be in by this morning.

Friday night's festivities included a USO Hangar Dance featuring Jerry Ford and his orchestra.

Scheduled events for today and Sunday include helicopter and plane rides, a Warbird fly-by featuring a fleet of vintage military aircraft, exhibitions by Kathy Ekl and the American Decathlon, Jack Ekl and the French Fouga jet, Wayne Handley and The Raven, Bob Davis and the Russian SU-29, Don Johnson and Toyota Airsports and the Dodge Ram Jet.

Weather permitting, Suzanne Asbury-Oliver will also be up in the Pepsi Skywriter, a vintage 1929 biplane.

Main gates open at 9 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. today and Sunday.