Gliding over Wadsworth
Balloon event has successful launch
Balloons launched at Wadsworth Municipal Airport Aug. 4. Photo by TOM STUGMYER
A cute, stuffed friend hung out on the basket of one of the balloons. Photo by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
The balloons returned to the airport at nightfall for an evening glow. Photo by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
The crowd watches as the balloons inflate for the glow. Photo by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
WADSWORTH – For hot air balloons to launch, there needs to be practically perfect weather conditions. Fortunately for the multitude of balloon pilots and the thousands of spectators at Balloons Over Wadsworth, perfect weather was present Aug. 4.
Balloons launched from Wadsworth Municipal Airport in the early evening and returned at nightfall for a group glow.
“It was the perfect day for the launch,” said Cathy Helmuth, a member of the Magic Carpet team out of Wooster. “Our pilot took our sponsor up for a ride.”
Helmuth said her balloon team was at the event the year before, but none of the balloons were able to launch due to rain.
“Basically, we need no storms and the wind should be between 4 mph and 10 mph. Tonight it was about 5 mph,” she said. “Too much wind and it isn’t safe and not enough and you just don’t get anywhere. But tonight is a beautiful night.”
The line of traffic entering into the airport was often at a standstill. Parking areas were packed and cars lined up along state Route 57 to watch the launch.
Mike and Renee Grzincic drove all the way from Parma and were stuck in traffic when the launch took place.
“We are going to stay for the glow, though,” Mike said. “We came here all the time when our kids were little. Back then there used to be rides and all sorts of things.”
“On good weather days, there should probably be more food trucks,” Renee said.
Katherine Heim traveled to the event from Westlake.
“I’ve come several times,” she said. “It would be nice if maybe there was a shuttle for people who have to park far away.”
Councilor Tom Stugmyer went up in a hot air balloon for the very first time and enjoyed taking pictures from the sky.
“It was an incredible experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat,” he said.
When the balloon Stugmyer was riding in began its descent at Wadsworth High School, one of the turning flaps got hung on a light pole, but Stugmyer said the balloon pilot was amazing and everything turned out fine.
“The pilot did an excellent job,” he said. “The basket landed perfectly upright. Everything was very safe. Normally the ground crew would have been there guiding us down, but because of the huge crowd they were stuck in traffic.”
Balloons launched from Wadsworth Municipal Airport in the early evening and returned at nightfall for a group glow.
“It was the perfect day for the launch,” said Cathy Helmuth, a member of the Magic Carpet team out of Wooster. “Our pilot took our sponsor up for a ride.”
Helmuth said her balloon team was at the event the year before, but none of the balloons were able to launch due to rain.
“Basically, we need no storms and the wind should be between 4 mph and 10 mph. Tonight it was about 5 mph,” she said. “Too much wind and it isn’t safe and not enough and you just don’t get anywhere. But tonight is a beautiful night.”
The line of traffic entering into the airport was often at a standstill. Parking areas were packed and cars lined up along state Route 57 to watch the launch.
Mike and Renee Grzincic drove all the way from Parma and were stuck in traffic when the launch took place.
“We are going to stay for the glow, though,” Mike said. “We came here all the time when our kids were little. Back then there used to be rides and all sorts of things.”
“On good weather days, there should probably be more food trucks,” Renee said.
Katherine Heim traveled to the event from Westlake.
“I’ve come several times,” she said. “It would be nice if maybe there was a shuttle for people who have to park far away.”
Councilor Tom Stugmyer went up in a hot air balloon for the very first time and enjoyed taking pictures from the sky.
“It was an incredible experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat,” he said.
When the balloon Stugmyer was riding in began its descent at Wadsworth High School, one of the turning flaps got hung on a light pole, but Stugmyer said the balloon pilot was amazing and everything turned out fine.
“The pilot did an excellent job,” he said. “The basket landed perfectly upright. Everything was very safe. Normally the ground crew would have been there guiding us down, but because of the huge crowd they were stuck in traffic.”
