The 2014 US National Aerobatic Championships opened today at the North Texas Regional Airport in Sherman/Denison, Texas with the general briefing for all participants and flights in Unlimited category of the Known compulsory.
Altogether, 88 pilots have registered to fly in the event with 12 in Unlimited. These pilots will compete for positions on the US Aerobatic Team that will compete in France in August 2015.
The day's schedule was a busy one. Unlimited Chief Judge Charlie Harrison conducted a Judges Refresher Course on behalf of Judges Program Chairman Greg Dungan for all of the Judges which included special emaphasis on 2014 rules changes as well as glider judging criteria (conducted by Mark Matticola).
At 1:00 pm, the general briefing was conducted by Contest Director Gray Brandt which included drawing of order of flight for all categories. While a scheduled time of 2:00 pm was set for the beginning of the Unlimited Knowns, the contest was delayed while the Jury assured the boundary sighting devices were properly installed and aligned. Their inspection before flying revealed they were not properly aligned and secured. Once that was finished, the flights were launched and all completed.
As of this writing at about 10:00 pm Sunday night, scores have not been posted to the internet as the upload has presented problems and could not be completed. Results were available, in paper form, on the airfield. Our volunteers are working the problem and hope to have the results up soon. Tonight, in addition to a fine BBQ sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, Unlimited pilots presented their figure choices for the 1st Unlimited Free Unknown. Sequence proposals are due tomorrow and then they can choose which Free Unknowns they will fly.
The provisional list of figures (to be checked officially by 8:00 am tomorrow) is provided below for download. These are the 10 figures the top-ranked Unlimited pilots submitted tonight at the airport. A Form A is provided with the catalogue numbers and K-factors.
More news coming soon.
