22nd hot air balloon fest set in Clark

Some of the world’s finest hot air balloon pilots are in town for the 22nd Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta that’s expected to draw a sellout crowd at the Omni Aviation Complex in Clark, Pampanga starting today.

At least 26 brightly-colored hot air balloons from England, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Sweden, Japan and the Philippines will adorn the skies in the “Weekend of Everything that Flies,” the longest-running sports aviation event in Asia.

Expected to draw attention in the four-day festivities are the new specially-shaped balloons namely Happy Heart, Matryoshka Russian Doll, Queen’s Guard, Giant Strawberry, Buddy Balloon, Captain Jack, Princess Nellie, Vostok Balloon, Master Yoda, Morris the Donkey, Bruno the Clown and Pepe the Hedgehog.

Non-stop flying activities, including paragliding, skydiving, aerobatic exhibitions, formation flights, balloon bursting competitions and kite flying, are also on tap, assuring a day-long entertainment for local and foreign enthusiasts.

To make the annual showcase more exciting this time, organizers have invited world-renowned Aerosuperbatics Wingwalkers, the world’s only aerobatic formation wingwalking team, to provide an breathtaking aerial show.

A pair of fearless female wingwalkers in British Gina Marshall and Katie Hobbs, both strapped to the aircraft’s wings, will perform some acrobatic moves and handstands as the two Stearman biplanes fly in an exhilarating routine of dazzling aerobatics, doing loops, rolls, stall turns and inverted flights.

There will also be fun activities on the ground like supercar drifting exhibitions as airplanes drop flour bombs overhead, drone racing and RC control line flying exhibitions, archery, horseback riding, camel-riding, and animal-feeding.