Husband-vs-Wife Aerobatics Among Unique Attractions at MidWay Regional Airport

The City of Midlothian, Texas promises an Aviation Extravaganza featuring 40 magnificent, colorful Hot Air Balloons at this weekend's DFW Summer Balloon Classic & AirFest. The event takes place at MidWay Regional Airport, minutes south of Dallas and Ft. Worth in Midlothian July 22nd through the 24th. Admission is free to the public, with $10 per vehicle parking.

The Hot Air Balloons are the stars of the show with twice daily mass ascensions. Morning flights are followed by top ranked competitors flying their balloons to compete in challenging tasks. World and national champions will compete, sanctioned by the Balloon Federation of America, which has chosen this event to host the Texas State Championship.

Saturday evening will bring the “Lite the Nite” balloon glow as the sun goes down. Saturday afternoon's airshow is titled, "MidWay To the Skies," and includes formation flights and aerobatic performances. The stars of the show are the Trojan Phlyers, also based at MidWay, with their close formation precision aerobatics. The show also boasts the only Aerobatic Air Racing Challenge in the south.
 
Kate Kyer and current ARC champion Julia Wood, both airline captains, will compete. In a novel husband-against-wife event, Julia will fly with husband Tony Wood in his TurboShark leading teams of two in dramatic aerobatic maneuvers in a timed sequence. Mike “Spanky” Gallaway, flying and announcing with Jan Collmer round out the performances with a special appearance by Randy Ball in his MiG-17 jet.

Other attractions include skydivers, helicopters, a variety of airplanes, military aircraft, the Commemorative Air Force, Cold War museum, powered hang gliders, powered parachutes, radio control aircraft and more in static displays, demonstrations and flyovers. Flights will be available to the public in helicopters, airplanes, a B25 bomber, a Stearman and tethered balloons.

FMI: www.summerballoonclassic.com