The deadline for the submission of pilot entries for the World Air Games has now passed and the following pilots will compete in the Games next June in Turin, Italy:

In Power aerobatics, competitors will be Renaud Ecalle (FRA), Ramon Alonso (ESP), Mikhail Mamistov (RUS), Svetlana Kapanina (RUS), Michael Racy (USA), Debby Rihn-Harvey (USA), Gerald Cooper (GBR), Martin Sonka (CZE), Pierre Marmy (SUI), and Marco Bosoni (ITA).

Today, the pilot selection for the World Air Games in Turin, Italy begins.

I have sent messages to the Delegates of those countries eligible to participate in the Games asking for their selections. CIVA will not select pilots -- as some other FAI Air Sports Commissions do -- but will leave it to our NACs to do so.

Countries eligible to select pilots for the Power Aerobatics division of the Games include France, Spain, Russia, USA, Great Britain, Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Italy. Russia and the USA are eligible to send two pilots each -- one male and one female.

The 1st World YAK 52 Aerobatic Championships was concluded in Novosibirsk, Russia. The event was held on 17-24 August and 23 pilots from 7 countries participated in the Championships.

The YAK 52 event was conceived in recent years in order to bring the possibility of participation in FAI Aerobatic Championships to more pilots. The next event of this kind will be held in Lithuania in 2009. After that, it is expected to be held every two years.

Ferenc Toth of Hungary flew to victory in the 9th European Glider Aerobatic Championships in Radom, Poland. The EGAC concluded on 17 August. Toth flew the Swift S-1 aerobatic glider.

In second place was Erik Piriou of France and in third, Markus Feyerabend of Germany.

The Team of the Czech Republic took first place in the Team Championships with Russia in second and Germany in third.

Detailed results can be found at the following website:

http://aerobatics.mwebservices.net/

Rob Holland was named the 2008 World Advanced Aerobatic Champion today at the completion of the AWAC in Pendleton, Oregon, USA. The protest period expired at 16.34 (Pacific Daylight Time) and the results and final standings became official.

Team USA captured the Team Championship followed by South Africa and Great Britain.

Congratulations to all the winners!