More than 100 of the nation’s most highly-skilled aerobatic pilots will contend in head-to-head competition for the U.S. National Aerobatic Championship title at the Grayson County Airport in Denison, TX, this month. The Championships will be held September 25-30 in Denison, which is one hour north of the Dallas metro area, and are organized by the International Aerobatic Club (IAC), the 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 over 20 countries at the 2006 Advanced World Aerobatic Championships October 5 – 15th, 2006. An estimated thirty pilots will vie for 8 positions on the U.S. Advanced Team. The AWAC contest location will be determined in November, with the U.S. proposal of Jean, Nevada, just south of Las Vegas, in the running against Poland.
On September 25, pilots will begin flying a series of preliminary compulsory flights. Competitors will be graded on technical ability against the other pilots throughout the week.
“Aerobatic competition can be likened to figure skating,” said Vicki Cruse, IAC president. “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 pilot’s until a few hours prior to the competition, and a freestyle program that tests not only a pilot’s skill, but also his/her artistic ability and presentation.”
“The Championships not only pick the US Advanced Team for 2006 World Championships, but also pick the best pilots in four other categories. 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, Wisconsin, is the sole sanctioning authority of aerobatic activity in the United States. Over 50 aerobatic competitions are sanctioned annually by IAC. The membership organization has over 5,000 members nationwide and over 50 local chapters.
For additional information on the week’s activities, contact the International Aerobatic Club at 920-426-6574 or the U.S. Nationals web site at www.usnationals.net.
