ROCHESTER, N.H. (AP) – It was bombs away at Skyhaven Airport this weekend as competitors took to the air to win a turkey for the Thanksgiving holiday.

In this case, the bombs were pumpkins dropped from aircraft at a height of about 500 feet. Participants and pilots were aiming the pumpkins at a barrel placed inside an inflatable swimming pool.

Each participant got three tries. A spotter on the ground told the pilot and the contestant how close they came to allow them to adjust.

Lynn Lentz, of Stratham, says the closest anyone got on Saturday was about two feet left of the target. The competition was expected to continue Sunday. No one was immediately available at the airport to say if anyone won that day.

If no one hit the target, organizers planned to draw winners from a list of participants.

Lentz said the idea arose when pilots at Ossipee Valley Aviation were brainstorming how to get some attention while having fun.

“You want to encourage young aviators and try to get them to go up at a young age,” Lentz said.

Organizers say they want to repeat the event next year and use it to raise money for charity.

Adam McMahon, 11, was among the contestants on Saturday who considered the game a success.

“You don’t win, but it’s fun – you get to drop stuff out of planes,” he said.

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Information from: Foster’s Daily Democrat, http://www.fosters.com

AP-ES-11-20-05 1502EST