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Pilot Prepared for Another Macomb Balloon Rally

An eastern Illinois man is looking forward to getting another bird's eye view of western Illinois.

Ryan Carlton of Danville is one of the hot air balloon pilots participating in the 28th Annual Macomb Balloon Rally, which this year has a theme of "Far Out!"

Carlton has been a pilot since he was 14.  He said it's more than a hobby -- it's a way of life.

Credit Frannie Smith / Tri-States Public Radio News
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Tri-States Public Radio News
The inside of a hot air balloon.

"In a balloon, you're just with the wind and you're with nature. There's no more close feeling you can have to the environments around you," Carlton said.

Carlton has soared through the skies of the United States and Canada.

The event will wrap up Saturday night with the popular balloon glow, in which the pilots set up their balloons in rows and light up the night sky at Vince Grady Field.

A complete list of events can be found on the Macomb Balloon Rally's website.All the activities are free and open to the public.

This weekend's rally will mark the 17th time Carlton has taken part in the Macomb event. 

24 balloons are scheduled to take part.  Many are from west central Illinois, although there will also be balloons from Iowa and Missouri.