Posted on 06/21/2005 8:04:46 AM PDT by Dashing Dasher
Tomorrow marks the beginning of a little known international sporting competition.
The US Aerobatic Team takes on the world at Burgos, Spain. I would like to share my interest in this sport with my FReeper FRiends. I hope you find this interesting.
I am getting updates from three of the team members on a regular basis - plus there is a website that will have scores, updates, pictures, etc. keeping all of us FANS involved in the day to day competition going on in Spain.
This competition is held somewhere in the world every other year. Last time (2003), it was in Lakeland, Florida, USA. Trophies are given out for individuals and for teams. In 2003, the Russians placed 1, 2, 3, with the highest ranking USA Pilot, Robert Armstrong, coming in fourth place. The team results were Russia, France, USA.
These are the best (competition) aerobatic pilots in the world. The United States has a team of ten - six men and four women - who will be representing us.
Other countries we know will be bringing teams include Russia, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, plus - who knows who else will show up... There is word we will see pilots - but maybe not whole teams from Finland, South Africa, Australia, Sweden, and Czech Republic. A minimum of three pilots is necessary to form an actual team.
The US Team will be flying several different airplanes. The American Made Zivko Edge 540 will be flown by Vicki Cruse, Janet Fitzke, and Kirby Chambliss. Also American Made is the Panzl S-330 which will be flown by Allyson Parker Lauck. Debby Rihn-Harvey has competed in the Worlds three times and David Martin, another WAC Veteran, will be flying the French made CAP-232. Robert Armstrong will be flying a CAP-231. Hubie Tolson, Michael Racy and Zach Heffley (our youngest team member at 24) will be flying the Russian Sukhoi 26.
Each competition starts with a Known also known as a Compulsory or Q program. Each pilot will fly the same sequence of maneuvers and will be judged by an international panel. The next program is the Freestyle. This allows each pilot to put together a sequence of maneuvers of their own creation.
Once the first two programs are flown, the first of the two Unknowns begin. These are a set of flight sequences designed by committee and given to the competitors 24 hours before they need to fly them. This is very difficult and is really separates the wheat from the shaft, if you know what I mean.
I will continue to update this thread to keep everyone up to date on what is happening in Spain. Please feel free to visit these websites for additional information – or if you have specific questions – let me know. I’ll try to answer them for you.
http://www.usaerobaticteam.com/htmlfile/index.php
http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/calendar.asp
So many jokes, so little time.
Are you setting me up for a FR time out, like pissant ???
Just chop the top set of wings off... you'll be OK, trust me...LOL
Note to self... do not trust dfwddr with aeronautical questions.
It would be kinda fun to get in cahoots with the mods - if they charged a fine... hmmmmm...
You mean your NOT ??? I figured you were here to flush us out, then step back, and let the Mods have at us.....
Amazing how far the feminazis will go for equality. Even air acrobatics. I am sure we would win every year if not for the chicks demanding to fly with the team.
I thought it was your stalker.
It is hard, even in that get up, to tell them apart anymore. So freaking many.
This is going to be a short one. Going to bed soon.
It's official... Marta Meyer is going to be the warm-up pilot at the
WAC. She has flown both Janet and Vicki's airplanes, and may fly
either for the warm-up flights.
The whole Team is now in Burgos, and we each got to practice in the
competition box today. We're checked in to the contest hotel, and are
hoping we'll have another practice slot tomorrow.
There will be a pilot briefing tomorrow afternoon, followed by the
opening ceremonies. We'll draw for order of flight at the briefing.
Will give you more info tomorrow.
Good night from Burgos,
Allyson
Cool pic!
My experience of skydiving was that the free fall really feels like falling like a rock, not like floating on a cushion of air as it might appear in a film.
I was also surprised that once the chute opens, it did't feel like dangling in space or falling. It felt really steady, with just the scale changing on the ground below. Aesthetically beautiful, quiet, and a unique 360 degree view. All in all, a real blast.
Today is the official start of the Contest.
Opening Cermonies are at 4pm Burgos Time (which is 7am PDT).
Which means they are happening right now.
The sunrise in this area is 6:38am and the sunset is at 9:55pm. I bet they'll fly until at least 9pm everyday.
Today's weather has a high of 91 degrees with 37% Humidity.
Go USA!!!
Update from Burgos:
There are 48 pilots competing in the Contest.
The Order of Flight was selected - the worst position is first - we call that position the "Wind Dummy" since everyone else gets a chance to see you fly in the Aerobatic Box and figure out the wind based on what the "Wind Dummy" does.
Reigning World Champion Sergey Rakhmanin drew the unfortunate position of #1. "Team Bad Karma" (because of their difficulties in getting their airplanes in Spain) continued on their path of bad Karma... Allyson drew #2 and Vicki drew #4. Michael Racy also got a less than fortunate number by drawing #5.
The rest of Team USA got very good draws. Robert flies #17, Debby #24, Janet #26, Zach #29, Kirby #34, David #38, and Hubie #47.
More news as it comes in........
Reporting live from Burgos (I wish) ... Dashing Dasher
This is written in Aresti Code - which is the "Language of Aerobatics"
Found this on the Royal Spanish Air Club site. - finally got it translated...
From 22th june to 2nd July de julio, Burgos main Airport, Villafría, will held the 23th edition of the World aerobatic Championship, organizad by Spanish Air Royal l Federation (RFAE) & Royal Spanish Air Club (RACE).
PROGRAMMES :
The programmes that will be flown are:
Q Programme or Known programme
Pilots know this programme, 6 months before and maximum time of completition is 10 minutes, after take off. Only pilots are qualified if they get at least 70 % of qualifications. Order of starting is by contest.
Free programme
Every pilot make his own exercise in a maximum period of 15 minutes and his programme cannot include more of 15 unique figures 15. Order odf starting is opposite to the qualification orden obtained in Known programme.
Unknown programme 1
Pilots may choose one of the figures whose coeficient is inferior to 15 from CIVA's list. With all of them, judges make a new programme with a maximum time of completition of 15 minutes from take off and maximun 14 figures. Judges publish this programme 24 hours before starting this programme. It si not allowed to practise this programe.
Unknown programme 2
Same as above, but only play 75 % of participants.
4 minutes programme
It is scored in different way and it is named " 4 minutes" because is the maximun time to ccpmpletition. The figures are free election , smoke and music is used. It's one of the most beautiful programmes to be seen by public.
Air Show
2nd July will be a great AirShow to commemorate the 100 th Aniversary of Real Aero Club de España. Starting at the end of 4 minutes programme . This Air Show will be attend by Air Forces units, such us ASPA Air Patrol, F18, one Saeta and two Texan T-6, etc.
I sure do miss Patti Johnson going Full Tilt Boogie!
Less than 90 days to go...WooHoo!
You can see why she was so fast - even in this picture.
The nose bowl, the wing tips, the gear fairings, the tailwheel pants....
That is so cool....
Ps... Rookie school was last week. Go to www.aafo.com for pix and stories.
Yep, I may live on FreeRepublic.com but I have a summer house at AAFO. heheheh
;-)
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