04/08/2002 | Posted by Mike at 05:49 PM
Today, the 5th Advanced World Aerobatic Championships was officially opened.
Though World Aerobatic Championships in the Unlimited category have been held under the banner of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale since 1960, the Advanced category is a relatively new event. The first AWAC was held in Cape Town, South Africa in 1995 with subsequent contests held in the USA, Czech Republic, and Germany. The competition has steadily grown and has created much interest among aerobatic pilots around the world.
AWAC is different from other aerobatic competitions because there are restrictions on aircraft. The purpose of these restrictions is to reduce costs for competitors as less expensive aircraft are eligible to fly in Advanced and there is not a “race for horsepower and performance” that we have seen in Unlimited over the past four decades. Thus, pilots can fly in Advanced without committing huge amounts of money to become competitive. However, it should be mentioned that in the end, the pilot’s ability to skillfully fly the aircraft in the aerobatic box is the ultimate determining factor in who wins. Even if there were no limits on aircraft, it can be argued that no one can “buy” a winning medal or trophy. It must be earned.
At this competition, we have now registered 56 pilots from 16 nations. These pilots are flying 26 aircraft and the types include the Yak 55, Zlin 50, Extra 230, various models of the Pitts Special, CAP 21’s, G-200 and 202, the CAP 21, and others. It is quite a beautiful array of aerobatic airplanes here on the ground in Murska-Sobota.
Countries represented here are Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States of America.
Our judges line is also staffed with superb and experienced people and is headed by Chief Judge John Gaillard of South Africa. Judges include Lars-Göran Arvidsson (SWE), Quintin Hawthorne (RSA), Osmo Jalovaara (FIN), John King (USA), Yuri Tarassov (RUS), Jiri Duras (CZE), Radomir Orlita (SLO), Jean Zumaglini (FRA), and Aldo Marengo (ITA). It should be remembered that all Judges are international officials and are not part of teams at these Championships though they occasionally are seen wearing their national colors. The scoring system removes any bias.
Opening ceremonies were held at 11.00. The keynote address was made by Brigadir Ladislav Lipic, Chief of the General Staff of the Slovenian Army. All of the various speeches made by the dignitaries at the opening were warm, full of praise for the organizers, and paid tribute to the skilled pilots present at AWAC. It was a nice occasion.
Flying finally began at 15.58 local time. The first day of a competition is always a difficult one and you begin to push the “organisation machine” into motion. Some paperwork problems delayed the initial start and the Line Judges (boundaries) experienced some radio difficulties but these sorts of things are quite normal for a major aerobatic championships. I fully expect that as the contest begins to settle into a routine, we will be flying 5-6 pilots per hour.
The first pilot in the air for Programme Q (qualification) was Johann Arch of Switzerland flying a beautiful Extra 230. It is powered by a four-cylinder Lycoming engine. At 18.30 --- after 12 flights --- a weather report received by the International Jury indicated a major shift in the winds aloft. The contest had been using the east to west axis for the beginning of the flight programme since the winds were from the southwest and quite light --- about 3 meters/second. However, the wind shifted to 100 degrees at 7 meters per second and the Jury recalled pilot #13, Heintje Wyczisk of Germany, from the box. He landed without performing his programme and after preparing for it physically and psychologically, I know it was a disappointment to him not to be able to complete the flight. However, the sequence would have been flown downwind and this is in violation of the rules and would actually have caused him to re-fly the programme again. So it was better to land. Flying was then called off for the day by Janez Kramberger, the Contest Director, as it was not possible to change the main axis of the competition box in the remaining time.
But the day ended pleasantly as the AWAC participants were hosted at a reception by Brigadir Lipic in an old castle in the middle of Murska-Sobota and everyone then returned to their hotels in the area with hopes for good weather.
The 5th Advanced World Aerobatic Championships came to a close on Saturday, 11 August, in Murska-Sobota, Slovenia. Frédéric Chesneau of France was crowned the new Advanced World Aerobatic Champion. Fredric flew a beautiful Extra 230 to victory in the competition. All told, 56 pilots from 16 nations flew in the competition. Petr Biskup of the Czech Republic was second overall followed by Mark Jefferies of the United Kingdom in third.