A few of the accompanying pictures tells only a small part of the story.

Mike Zimmerman, Production Manager, and Mickelle [not Michelle] Green provided a briefing about the history of Aerostar and tour of the facility.

Aerostar provides high altitude balloons for NASA, the USAF, and other entities around the world.

The plastic material must meet high standars for tensile strength.  

Aerostar has two balloons in the final construction phase.  This is a first class operation.

Here is a cap that goes on top of the balloon.

The smaller round plates are where the exhaust valves are mounted.

This is a machine that separates the plastic film and checks for defects in the film.

We were very impressed with the facility and what is accomplished there and it proved to be a most interesting trip.

This is a "must see" for anyone interested in aviation, and particularly in lighter-than-air balloons.

Click here for a short video. 

Following the tour, most of the group head south on highway 154 to another outstanding crowd-pleaser, Big Smith's BBQ.

Bodacious only begins to tell the story of Big Smith's.

You will note a few pictures taken at Big Smith's and one individual who seems to be enjoying his ribs.