NATCHEZ &045; Two days of aerial acrobatics and exhibits at the airport will give Natchez-area families some rare experiences Saturday and Sunday.

At a meeting Tuesday, the Natchez-Adams County Airport Commission announced final plans for the Natchez Air Fair, opening

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

From space ball and moon walks for the children to thrilling Pitts Biplane sky maneuvers for aviation aficionados, the day will be filled with activities and demonstrations for all ages, said Clint Pomeroy, airport manager.

The idea of holding an air fair grew from a desire to get more people to the Natchez-Adams County Airport &045; &uot;people who ordinarily would never go to the airport,&uot; Pomeroy said. The commission also hopes to show how the airport might be considered as the site for new industry in the area, as well, he said.

&uot;Also, we are putting an emphasis on the military. Saturday is Armed Forces Day, and we want to honor our military.&uot;

Time did not allow some of the events the commission and other sponsors hope to add in coming years, Pomeroy said.

&uot;We want this to be like a springtime balloon festival,&uot; he said, referring to the successful Great Mississippi River Balloon Race held in October each year. &uot;We may try to incorporate balloons next year. Balloons fly in the morning and evening, and the planes fly in the middle of the day.&uot;

The air fair will include plenty of food and drink, Pomeroy said. &uot;We ask people not to bring coolers so they will instead support the vendors we have out there.&uot;

One of the highlights of the air fair will be the appearance and participation of J.W. &uot;Corkey&uot; Fornof, who will act as air boss during the aerial demonstrations.

Fornof is well known in the aviation industry as well as in Hollywood, where he perhaps is most noted as the aerial coordinator for the James Bond movies.

The fair will feature a fly-in of one of the most impressive military fighters, the F-18 Hornet, which will come Sunday afternoon, flown by Rowdy Sewell, a Miss-Lou native, a charter pilot and a U.S. Marine Corps reservist.

Entrance fee is by car. &uot;This is a very affordable way for the family to spend a day,&uot; Pomeroy said. &uot;It’s five dollars a car.&uot;

Some of the events for the fair include these:

4The Texas T-Cart Airshows &uot;Aerial Ballet&uot;

4BT-13 Vultee Express World War II era aircraft

4F-18 and L39 jet aircraft demonstrations

4A display by Cirrus, state-of-the-art aircraft manufacturer

4Stearman’s navy planes and ultralights

4Experimental aircraft on display

Other sponsors are Natchez Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce, Budweiser, Taco Bell and United Mississippi Bank, among others.

Laura Godfrey, president and CEO of the chamber, said the family of long-time airport manager Billy Simmons has played a major role in getting the air fair organized.

&uot;They have spent countless hours on getting the program together,&uot; Godfrey said.

Interest has grown from outside Natchez, Pomeroy said. Conversations with the famous air boss Fornof indicate, weather permitting, many planes from the surrounding area will fly into the airport for the two-day event.