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18 May 2007
CEROUX (AP) – A hot air balloon in the shape of Darth Vader’s helmet took off from the square in this Belgian village on Thursday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the “Star Wars” sci-fi saga.
The balloon, 26 metres (86 feet) high and 21 metres (69 feet) wide, with three people in the basket, took the air to the cheers of several hundred people participating in a balloon festival.
The balloon, in the shape of the helmet of the legendary “Star Wars” villain, was the brainchild of Belgian Star Wars fans and cost “in the region of EUR100,000” to build and operate, organisers said.
The original “Star Wars” movie was released on May 25, 1977.
[Copyright AP 2007]
Subject: Belgian news