Margaret Kennedy squinted as she tried to follow the 1941 Stearman bi-plane across the Cape Girardeau sky. "My baby is in there," she confided.

Her baby, 16-year-old Bobby, had just taken off for his first non-commercial airplane flight. He was excited, but mom was worried.

The Kennedys joined a big crowd of air flight fans Saturday at the Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. The air show continues today. Gates open at 10. The air performance begins at 2 p.m., and gates close at 7 p.m.

As Margaret Kennedy paced on the tarmac, waiting for her son's safe return, people strolled through the displays of military and experimental aircraft. Pilots were on hand to answer questions.

The 2 p.m. performance was almost ready to start and airplanes were lining up on the runways in preparation.

"Oh, I can't even see the plane any more," Kennedy said, with her hand shielding her eyes from sun that just broke through the clouds.

The open-cockpit bi-plane came back into view and began its landing approach. As the plane taxied in, Kennedy breathed a sign of relief. "He's back," she said.

Bobby Kennedy smiled. "That was pretty cool," he said. "The best part was when he barrelled in on the side when we were coming in for the landing. I really hoped he would have turned me upside down."

But Kennedy was happy to have ridden in the historic aircraft. "I've always wanted to ride in one," he said.

A similar air show ride years ago led a DuQuoin, Ill., man to an career flying helicopters.

Neal Toler owns Kentucky Wing & Rotor, Inc., based in Paducah, Ky. He is giving helicopter rides this weekend at the air show.

"I remember it like it was yesterday," Toler said, after re-fueling his helicopter. "I was in the eighth grade in 1978 and my mom and dad bought me a helicopter ride at the DuQuoin State Fair as a graduation present.

"I got off the helicopter and told my folks `That's what I'm going to do for a living.'"

He was right. Toler owns a 1967 Bell 47 G2A1 helicopter, the same as choppers used in the television series "M.A.S.H."

"I think people want something exciting to do, and something a little different," Toler said. "You have a lot of choices at the air show this weekend."

One after another, people lined up for the helicopter rides, including Nick Wayland, 12, of Benton, Mo.

"That was fun," Wayland said after getting out of the helicopter. "I was kind of nervous at first, but it was great.

"We could see the highway and a lot of people. It was really windy."

The weather Saturday, after some rain showers early, turned out to be perfect for an air show, said Bruce Loy, airport manager.

"The weather is right for all the planes, the experimental planes and the war birds," he said, as the air performance began.

A Navy F-18 blasted off the runway and cruised past the crowd. The plane flew past silently and seconds later, the roaring noise of its jet engines caught up.

The show also includes a pyrotechnic performance that recreates a wartime scenario. The show simulates a 500-pound "Snake Eye" bomb with a fireball rising into the sky and 20mm cannon and machinegun fire.

"I think people will be surprised by the pyrotechnics," Loy said. "I'm not sure anyone expects the quality of air show we have this year."

Festival-goers may want to arrive early. The performance starts promptly at 2 p.m., and Saturday several festival-goers were hung up in traffic just prior to the start of the show.