Hot air balloons to race through Bloomington sky

If you look up to the sky to find bunches of cheerful orbs drifting slowly, you might be witness to this year's second annual Bloomington Balloon Fiesta. \nThis event, coordinated by balloonist Travis Vencel, Cook Aviation and Bill Oliver of Oliver Winery, takes place Saturday and Sunday at the Monroe County Airport, 972 S. Kirby Rd. Hot air balloon races may be observed throughout the day and night. Launches are at 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. Sunday. Pilots from across the country are coming to Bloomington to compete for a prize of $3,000. \nJohn Ninomiya, a hot air balloon pilot from California, was the reason the Bloomington Balloon Fiesta began, said Rex Hinkle, president of Cook Aviation, \n"Last year, John needed a hanger facility to blow up all of his balloons. We started inflating at 4:30 in the morning," he said.\nNinomiya is a cluster balloonist -- his device consists of several small, differently colored balloons with a seat suspended underneath. Flying through the air, Ninomiya's clusters look like a child's toy in the sky. \nThough Ninomiya will not attend this year's Balloon Fiesta, he described flying in Southern Indiana with fond affection.\n"It's certainly a lovely place to fly," he said. "The rolling hills in the southern part of the state are much more interesting to fly over than other, flatter areas. I hope to be able to attend (the Fiesta) again at some point in the future."\nOliver, who is both a wine-maker and a balloonist, said hot air balloon races are actually not about speed.\n"They've always been called 'races,' but the events are really more about accuracy flying and variations of flying towards a target," he said.\nThis year, 21 pilots will compete at the Balloon Fiesta. Among the entrants will be a balloon shaped like a football and another in the shape of the Pepsi Dot logo.\n"That was the main theme this year -- unusual balloons," said Hinkle. \nHinkle predicted a bigger turnout for the event than last year because he said people know more about what to expect now. However, he did have some reservations.\n"I'm a little concerned about the weather," he said. "We're hoping these thunderstorms move out by Saturday."\nVisitors at the Balloon Fiesta should enter the North gate to the Monroe County Airport and park in the field. Proceeds from a $5 parking charge will go to Jill's House, a temporary home in Bloomington for patients undergoing outpatient therapy at the Indiana University Proton Therapy facility.\nFor more information about the Bloomington Balloon Fiesta, visit www.oliverwinery.com. \n-- Contact staff writer Brittany Terwilliger at bterwill@indiana.edu.