This is VERY different from an airshow. The competitors are there to win the Nationals - but they are also available to talk to you and show you their planes.
Bring the kids and head to the airport to watch!
ping
Are you going to be there?
By the way... is that you in a "two of hearts" picture I found?
Local News
Gary Sewell
Herald Democrat
http://www.usnationals.net
Last minute polishing gets this aerobatic plane ready to fly Monday morning.
Flying high
Aerobatics competition under way
By Joyce Godwin
Herald Democrat
Close to 100 of the nation's most highly-skilled aerobatic pilots are
in head-to-head competition all week at the Grayson County Airport for
the U.S. National Aerobatic Championship title.
Competitions began Sunday and contest director Cliff Hurley of Keller
is taking advantage of the good flying weather and hoping the weather
will hold until Friday's finales.
Last Friday, Hurley was closely watching the skies in anticipation of
heavy weather caused by Hurricane Rita, but when that didn't come, the
contest began as scheduled.
The contest is organized by the International Aerobatic Club,
governing body for aerobatics in the United States.
The 2005 National Championships highlight the selection of the U.S.
Advanced Team members who will compete against top pilots from more
than 20 countries at the 2006 Advanced World Aerobatic Championships
Oct. 5-15, 2006.
The AWAC contest location will be determined in November, with the
U.S. proposal of Jean, Nev., just south of Las Vegas, in the running
against Poland.
On Sunday, pilots began flying a series of preliminary, compulsory
flights. Competitors are graded on technical ability against the other
pilots throughout the week.
"Aerobatic competition can be likened to figure skating," said IAC
President Vicki Cruse on the club's Web site. "In aerobatic
competition, pilots fly compulsory flights that test their skill in
front of a panel of trained judges. There are flights that are known
and practiced well in advance by the pilots, flights that are unknown
to the pilots until a few hours prior to the competition, and a
freestyle program that tests not only a pilot's skill, but also his or
her artistic ability and presentation."
In addition to choosing the U.S. Advanced Team for the 2006 World
Championships, the best pilots in four other categories will also be
chosen. "From sportsman pilots to more advanced contenders, the U.S.
Championships present the best precision flying in the nation," Cruse
said.
The International Aerobatic Club, a division of the Experimental
Aircraft Association, based in Oshkosh, Wisc., is the sole sanctioning
authority of aerobatic activity in the United States. More than 50
aerobatic competitions are sanctioned annually by IAC. More than 5,000
members belong to the nationwide organization in more than 50 local
chapters.
It's easy for local residents to watch the aerobatic flying at the
airport. Just bring a lawn chair and set it up close to the airport
terminal and get a full course of flying, tumbling, flipping and
stalling aircraft in the skies above.
.http://www.heralddemocrat.com/articles/2005/09/28/local_news/news04.txt