"Your favorite retired balloon is going to be there," a message was sent to Eight & 322 this past week. A few years back while I was working at The Derrick I went up to cover the Wings and Wheels event at the Venango Regional Airport in Franklin, I saw this old balloon being filled with air to allow visitors to the event walk inside the colorful giant. I had seen this before and took one of the best photos I have ever made inside one at the Thurston Classic, Meadville's annual hot-air balloon event.
And I thought this balloon looked like the same one.
It was. It once belonged to a nice guy named Frank Byham who retired it when he bought himself a new balloon. So for years at different events he would bring the old balloon out to fill with air to create a playground that folks seemed to love. Frank is now in his 90s and he sold the balloon years ago, but it is still around adding a big splash of color and fun for visitors to air shows all over the region.
And it helps this old photographer fondly rememberer the many conversations over the years with Frank.
And I thought this balloon looked like the same one.
It was. It once belonged to a nice guy named Frank Byham who retired it when he bought himself a new balloon. So for years at different events he would bring the old balloon out to fill with air to create a playground that folks seemed to love. Frank is now in his 90s and he sold the balloon years ago, but it is still around adding a big splash of color and fun for visitors to air shows all over the region.
And it helps this old photographer fondly rememberer the many conversations over the years with Frank.
Again, besides the 100s of cars that showed up, the crowds were large around the WW2 Beach City Baby.
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