Highest airport in state lights up on Independence Day
Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008
The Huntsville Airport and Mitchusson Park was once again the site of what has been called by many one of the best pyromusicals, or fireworks show set to music, in Northwest Arkansas.
The park was filled with families as early as 4: 30 the afternoon of the Fourth. Many who attended the familythemed event brought picnic dinners, and balls and Frisbees for the youngsters.
The event, hosted by the Huntsville fire Department and Barefoot Pyrotechnics, enjoyed its fifth year this year.
Sponsors for the event included: Madison County Telephone and Cable, Arvest, Wal-Mart, First National Bank of Berryville, First National Bank of Green Forest, First State Bank, Beyond Printing, Home & Heart, Weston Sills, Mallory Sills, Huntsville Chamber of Commerce. Thompsonís Ready Mix donated sand for the event, and Charles E. Coger again graciously allowed his land to be used as the shoot site.
The Group shot approximately 434 "cues"which translates into shots or fuses. Some of those are aerials while others are cakes or ground effects.
According to Randy Shinn, coordinator of the event," The entire show is controlled via computer. "The software not only controls the firing sequence, but monitors each "cue"1, 000 times per second for continuity as well as voltage and capacitance within the bus controller (control box at each rail ).
The software also is capable of simulating the show to allow the programmer, Lance Porter, a look at the show prior to actually having to order products for a show. Suffice to say, Lance has a tremendous passion for pyrotechnics and is driven to have the most accurate and safe system on the market. "While taking delivery of some of this year's fireworks, we had a chance to look at a PYROMATE fire control panel. At $ 70, 000 and only capable of controlling 405 cues, we are even more convinced the Barefoot Pyro system of Lance's is head and shoulders above other commercial systems, " Shinn said.
Shinn said, Porter two to three months off and on choreographing and setting timing for the show.
On the day of the shoot the group works about 12 hours setting up and testing the system along with squibbing and dropping product. Squibbing is installing electronic matches in each shot then placing it in the appropriate tube and attaching the e-match to the proper rail cue. "Then we wait until dark and start the show. This year we'll tear down and move all the equipment to Noel, Mo., for their show on the 5 th," Shinn said. "Intense but rewarding," is how Shinn sums up the event.
Shinn said this year's cost will end up at about $ 6, 300. If contracted by Premier Pyrotechnics to shoot this show (without the music timed to aerial breaks ) would be about $ 25, 000. ($ 1, 000 per minute for a 15 shot per minute average ).
Truly a bargain as the event is completely free to spectators and can be seen over most of Huntsville and some outlying communities.
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