Doing It Inverted

May 2013

Safety: Doing it Inverted

•Lessons Learned •Risk Assessment Tool •Modern WAC •The Starter

ANNUAL SAFETY ISSUE Introducing the All-New 2013 Lincoln Mkz Luxury. Rewritten.

It’s not all things to all people. It’s everything to a certain few. MKZ’s form and structure fuse to create a singular expression of elegant simplicity. Inside, beautiful surfaces combine with advanced technology to create a sense of openness and expansive space. Designed and sculpted with the express purpose of enhancing the sensation of sound, 14 strategically placed speakers and a 10-inch subwoofer deliver 700 watts of unadulterated THX® II Certified Audio* bliss. MKZ reads the road’s every move with advanced sensors that constantly monitor the road surface and vehicle dynamics, adjusting in milliseconds to provide a continual air of confidence over even the coarsest of surfaces. The available 3.7L Ti-VCT V6 delivers an inspiring 300 horsepower @ 6500 rpm, more than enough for responsive passing and merging. The Privilege of Partnership EAA members are eligible for special pricing on Ford Motor Company THE ALL-NEW 2013 LINCOLN MKZ – vehicles through Ford’s Partner Recognition Program. To learn more on THE fuTurE Of LINCOLN dEsIgN bOrN TOdAy. this exclusive opportunity for EAA members to save on a new Ford *Available feature vehicle, please visit www.eaa.org/ford.

EAA_Divisional_May_MKZ_Ad.indd 1 3/12/13 10:54 AM OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB Vol. 42 No.5 May 2013 A PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB

CONTENTSOFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB

“The starter has many responsibilities. Some are spelled out in the IAC contest rule book; . . .” –Gary DeBaun Features

4 Lessons Learned: Smoke Tanks Do Not Make Good Auxiliary Fuel Tanks by Gary DeBaun

6 Regional Safety Coaches and the Aerobatic Risk Assessment Tool by Steve Johnson

8 Nomex Needs Care, Too by Allen Silver

10 The Modern World Aerobatic Championships by Gordon and Lorrie Penner

16 The Starter by Gary DeBaun

22 When Doing It Inverted by Lukas von Atzigan

The Cover Columns 32 / Meet a Member Lukas von Atzigan demonstrates a vertical downline in a very slick glider. See page 22 for tips Departments on flying aerobatics safely in a glider. 2 / Letter From the Editor

3 / News

28 / Contest Calendar

31 / FlyMart & Classifieds OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB

REGGIE PAULK COMMENTARY / EDITOR’S LOG

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB

Publisher: Doug Sowder IAC Manager: Trish Deimer-Steineke Editor: Reggie Paulk OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB VICE PRESIDENT of Publications: J. Mac McClellan SENIOR ART DIRECTOR: Olivia P. Trabbold Safety

Contributing Authors: Coming with responsibility Lukas von Atzigan Gordon Penner Gary DeBaun Lorrie Penner Steve JohnsonOFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONALAllen Silver AEROBATIC CLUB Reggie Paulk

IAC Correspondence International Aerobatic Club, P.O. Box 3086 The May issue has traditionally From the moment a person takes Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086 Tel: 920.426.6574 • Fax: 920.426.6579 been the safety issue, and this year is on the awesome responsibility of E-mail: [email protected] no different. Aviation, almost more becoming a pilot, they have chosen than any other human endeavor, is to become part of a community of ADVERTISING infused with a laser focus on safety. individuals who take pride in the fact Katrina Bradshaw [email protected] You can’t so much as set foot inside a that they are in charge of their own Sue Anderson [email protected] Jeff Kaufman [email protected] flight school without being introduced fates. Flight training is geared toward to the methods that have contributed teaching a person not only to fly, but Mailing: Change of address, lost or damaged to aviation’s excellent record of safety. to learn the warning signs and take magazines, back issues. But that doesn’t mean we’ve elimi- appropriate action to avoid a mishap. EAA-IAC Membership Services nated accidents. Pilots learn not to trust their in- Tel: 800.843.3612 Fax: 920.426.6761 E-mail: [email protected] stincts—but to follow the evidence and their own training. This is as true The International Aerobatic Club is a division of the EAA. Flight training is geared in instrument flying as it is in spin recovery. The aviation community has toward teaching a developed procedures to follow when EAA® and SPORT AVIATION®, the EAA Logo® and Aeronautica™ are things go pear-shaped. It minimizes registered trademarks and service marks of the Experimental Aircraft person not only to risk by safely exposing us to the types Association, Inc. The use of these trademarks and service marks without the permission of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. is strictly of conditions that might prove fatal prohibited. Copyright © 2013 by the International Aerobatic Club, Inc. fly, but to learn the if we weren’t to practice them before- All rights reserved. hand. It prepares us to handle those

The International Aerobatic Club, Inc. is a division of EAA and of the warning signs and take things we don’t anticipate with a clear NAA. head and a steady hand. This is the fifth safety issue I’ve had A STATEMENT OF POLICY The International Aerobatic Club, appropriate action to Inc. cannot assume responsibility for the accuracy of the material the honor of editing, but it should be presented by the authors of the articles in the magazine. The pages avoid a mishap. reiterated over and over again that of Sport Aerobatics are offered as a clearing house of information the flying community takes safety and a forum for the exchange of opinions and ideas. The individual reader must evaluate this material for himself and use it as he sees seriously and practices it as a ritual fit. Every effort is made to present materials of wide interest that will The beauty of aviation is that it before, during and after every flight of be of help to the majority. Likewise we cannot guarantee nor endorse places ultimate responsibility upon every day. It is a constant effort prac- any product offered through our advertising. We invite constructive criticism and welcome any report of inferior merchandise obtained the pilot in command (PIC)—but it ticed with a nearly religious dedica- through our advertising so that corrective measures can be taken. also places the ultimate authority on tion by those who make it their life’s Sport Aerobatics (USPS 953-560) is owned by the International the PIC as well. There are few areas in work to ply the skies. IAC Aerobatic Club, Inc., and is published monthly at EAA Aviation Center, Editorial Department, P.O. Box 3086, 3000 Poberezny Rd., Oshkosh, today’s society that entrust individu- WI 54903-3086. Periodical Postage is paid at Oshkosh Post Office, als with so much responsibility—but Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 and other post offices. Membership rate for the system works. the International Aerobatic Club, Inc., is $45.00 per 12-month period of which $18.00 is for the subscription to Sport Aerobatics. Manuscripts submitted for publication become the property of the International Aerobatic Club, Inc. Photographs will be returned upon request of the author. High-resolution images are requested to assure the best quality reproduction. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sport Aerobatics, P.O. Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086. CPC 40612608

2 Sport Aerobatics May 2013 Please submit news, comments, articles, or suggestions to: [email protected] NEWS BRIEFS

Two New IAC Titles—IAC Open IAC Needs your help! Champion East and West Lightspeed Foundation announces grant finalists by Doug Lovell by Julie Summers Walker On Saturday, April 6, at the spring To applause and laughter, the Lightspeed Aviation Foundation announced board of directors meeting held at San the finalists for its annual Pilot’s Choice Awards grants program on April 11 Carlos, California, the board voted to at the Sun ’n Fun International Fly-In & Expo. The applause came from the establish two new championship titles many members of the charitable aviation organizations that attended the an- for the IAC. The titles establish an IAC nouncement—10 of the 15 finalists will have the opportunity to win between Open Champion East and West in ev- $2,000 and $10,000 in grant money. The laughter was brought on by the ca- ery category flown at two selected re- maraderie of the organizations, all of whom share the passion for aviation. gional contests each year. We will fly “We want to lift you up and give you a chance to tell your story,” said Allan the titles this year. Schrader, president of Lightspeed Aviation. “I’m very pleased that over the It has been true for a long time that past three years we have been able to award more than $300,000 in grants.” not all great competitors can get to the Votes are cast online for the deserving organizations. Online voting is U.S. Nationals due to time, distance, open through October and award recipients will be announced in November. or a combination of factors. Some pi- Vote at http://www.lightspeedaviationfoundation.org/content.cfm/ lots can get there all of the time. Some Voting/Get-to-Know-the-2013-Finalists. can get there some of the time. Most The 15 finalists are Air Race Classic, Angel Flight East, Angel Flight Southeast, likely real contenders in Advanced or Angel Flight West, Civil Air Patrol, International Aerobatic Club, JAARS Inc., Unlimited will get to the Nationals Missionary Aviation Fellowship, Missionary Flights and Services, New Tribes in team selection years. If they think Mission, The Ninety-Nines, Pilots N Paws, Recreational Aviation Foundation they can get to another continent to (RAF), Whirly Girls Scholarship Fund, and Youth Aviation Adventure. compete, they get to Texas. “Do you know how long it would take us to raise this kind of money?” said Establishing these new titles ac- Recreational Aviation Foundation Florida Liaison Tim Clifford. “Grants like complishes many ends. We now have these allow us to take a big sigh of relief and just say ‘thank you’ and get to the IAC titles beyond the regionals that all work we need to do.” pilots within reach of the 48 states can AOPA President Craig Fuller said, “It is an honor to help you put a spot- more or less conveniently vie for at light on the good work being done by these organizations. We cannot have too least some of the time. Any IAC mem- many people recognizing the fine people of general aviation. Everybody wins.” ber can earn them. We get more ways to play. More to talk about. More ex- citement. More fun. Each year, one regional contest east of the Mississippi and one west will host the IAC Open Championship East or West title. The IAC board will designate the contests at its fall meeting following a number of criteria in priority order: •The regional contests express interest to host the title. •One contest is west of the Missis- sippi and one east. •The region has not hosted the title in the prior year. •The two contests selected are not both in the two central regions. •The contest is not too close to the site of the Nationals. continued on page 4

www.iac.org 3 NEWS BRIEFS continued from page 3

•Otherwise by attributes impressing the board to nearly unanimous favor or consensus. •Otherwise by random selection. These criteria will keep the title moving around a bit. No region or regional contest will become “owner” of the title. You can expect the title to come to your neighbor- hood every few years and to be near enough to your neigh- borhood about twice as often. We added a few items to the host regional that are not mandatory but optional. To the degree the host regional is able to achieve them, that contest will be somewhat more challenging, and telling, in the Advanced and Unlimited categories. At the contest director’s discretion, time and resources permitting, Advanced and Unlimited may fly a second Unknown program constructed the way Unknown programs are constructed at the Nationals. Further, preference will be given to national judges for the Advanced and Unlimited categories. If the contest can Last year I bought a find them, they use them. This is the same criteria used for selecting chief judges. Now regional judges have one Pitts S1C for the 2012 more reason to ramp it up a little and become national. contest season. As IAC pilot competitors, the chapter contests let you vie for local dominance. The regional titles let you vie for re- an A&P and aircraft gional dominance. You can even dominate multiple regions with time, effort, and a healthy amount of piston-pumping builder for the last fuel combustion. Now you can dominate the east or the west (or both!) 45 years I pretty well by attending the regionals hosting the IAC Open. If you’re getting that good (and you’re a U.S. citizen), run at the knew what to look Nationals for the distinction of gaining the highest honor given to a pilot competitor by the IAC, the title of U.S. Na- for during the pre- tional Champion. This year the Wildwoods AcroBlast will inaugurate purchase inspection. I the IAC Open East. IAC Chapter 58 hosts the contest at Wildwoods, Cape May County Airport (KWWD), near the did a 20 minute run-up southern tip of New Jersey. The AcroBlast is what it says, a blast, and fun for all after the inspection of the family with scenic and historic places, beaches, boardwalks, and great family entertainment within and all was well. miles of the site. The site was a strong contender for hosting the 2013 WAC. Come see why. Dates are Thurs- I wanted to make it home in one shot, no stops, day, June 13, to Sunday, June 16. so we topped off the center wing tank with fuel As of this writing, right here on the heels of the BOD from the seller’s personal fuel storage tank. I noted meeting, hosting the IAC Open West is up for grabs. it did have a filter, so I did not take any fuel sam- Good luck all you aerobatic genius masters of the sky. ples. I drained about a gallon of fuel from the one Good fortune, good flying, good fun. Fly to the IAC Open and only fuel tank sump. I noted no contaminates East or West this year and contend to be the first recipi- and was satisfied. ents of the new IAC Open Champion. IAC After a brief run-up I took off and flew east, lev-

4 Sport Aerobatics May 2013 Lessons Learned: Smoke Tanks Do Not Make Good Auxiliary Fuel Tanks Contamination by Gary DeBaun IAC 4145

eling off at 2000 AGL. The engine was running like a The cause of this accident was fuel contamination, and fine Swiss watch. I did a few rolls and flew inverted for here is how it happened. about 30 seconds. I was happy . . . it would be a good This Pitts, as many do, had a wing tank. It was de- contest season. signed and used as a Smoke Tank, and thus had no Twenty minutes into the flight I opened the fuel sump. At some point it was converted into an auxiliary valve for the top wing tank to let it drain into the main fuel tank, but still without a sump, and no way to drain tank (this was the standard procedure for my Acroduster any contamination or condensation which might accu- Too for many years). I was using my I-Pad and Foreflight mulate. When you open the wing tank valve fuel drains to navigate. However as a precaution I decided to go IFR by gravity into the main tank. So you can see where (I follow roads). Approximately 5 minutes after opening this is going . . . the wing tank fuel valve, the engine surged and quit. Being in somewhat of a hurry to get the Pitts home At 2,000 AGL you do not have much time. I closed I had neglected to put two and two together. The Pitts the wing tank fuel valve, checked the magneto switch, had been sitting for eight months, there was two gallons played with the throttle a bit – then decided to concen- of fuel in the top wing tank prior to topping it off. Con- trate on landing. The narrow country road in front of densation is a natural process – there WAS going to be me was void of traffic so I set up my dead stick approach some water in that tank. Yes, I sumped the main tank, and drove her onto the road (wheel landing). I made a but did not think much about the wing tank. perfect landing and bled off the airspeed, but when the On another point, I did not check for fuel contamina- tailwheel came down I lost complete sight of the road. tion from the seller’s own fuel storage tank. There was a The airplane drifted slightly over onto the soft dirt of filter and I assumed the fuel was fine. I’ll never know if the shoulder and it pulled me down into a ditch in which this was a contributing factor or not. I did a slow-motion nose over and finished inverted. This was a stupid mistake which could have been Prior to landing, I opened my canopy in hopes of a avoided by opening both fuel valves and draining all the quick eject should things go wrong. During the sudden fuel from the tanks. Failing that, I should have at least stop in the ditch the canopy slammed shut and locked. flown a local test flight which included switching tanks I was upside down and could not get the canopy open. several times within gliding distance of the runway. After initial panic (I was worried about fire) I settled The lesson here is this: Make sure you can sump all down, turned off the magneto and master switches – fuel tanks individually. Be wary of smoke tanks con- but could not reach the main fuel valve. After about 20 verted into fuel tanks and finally, if you are using a pri- minutes I managed to get the canopy open, parachute vate fuel source, take all precautions to ensure you are released and crawled out – with only a scratch on my getting good clean fuel. IAC head from the canopy.

www.iac.org 5 Regional Safety Coaches and the Aerobatic Risk Assessment Tool

Safety in the IAC by Steve Johnson IAC Safety Chair

or the last several years, It appears that over the years our IAC members and competitors who the FAA has been trying GA accident causes have not changed understand our sport, our psyches, to improve aviation safety. much; stalls/spins, VFR into IMC (a and the hazards we face in contest en- Recently the NTSB and decision-making subset), maintenance vironments, as well as traveling to and FAA came up with the new issues, and decision-making continue from contests. These safety coaches Safety Alerts program, to be the main causes of GA accidents. can help with real-world solutions to Fdesigned to help reduce general avia- The FAA has recommended that char- safety problems at our contests and tion accidents. The safety alerts are ter companies, corporate flight op- practice days. Please don’t hesitate printed documents that cover dif- erations, and flight schools develop to find, meet, and use your regional ferent hazards and potential solu- Safety Management Systems (SMS) safety coach for any safety questions tions. While overall aviation safety programs to help increase safety in or assistance. is very good, the general aviation their operations toward reducing ac- One of the tools developed for our small aircraft group does not have cidents. An SMS program was one of IAC SMS program is an aerobatic risk a very good safety record. The NTSB the NTSB recommendations from the assessment tool. This tool can be used has been issuing safety alerts since Reno Air Racing crash in 2011. Even- to identify and minimize the hazards 2011 to help reduce GA accidents. tually, similar safety programs will be and risks for pilots and the local air- The most recent safety alerts have had required of us in the aerobatic commu- port area. For individual pilots, in- to do with stalls at low altitudes, VFR nity. To that end, I have started on a creased risks would include being a flight in marginal conditions, mechan- few new safety programs for the Inter- new aerobatic pilot, pilots moving up ical issues, and decision-making. Each national Aerobatic Club (IAC). The first to higher categories, pilots flying with- of these safety alerts uses recent acci- is the development of a network of re- out a safety pilot for the first time, etc. dents as examples. gional safety coaches. These are active Each of these factors represents an in-

6 Sport Aerobatics May 2013 Contest Risk Assessment Tool Contest: Loca3on: Dates: Pilot Qualiﬁca3ons & Experience Score Pilot Total Time 1‐5 1 Over 500 Hours=1 300‐500 Hours=2 150‐300 Hours=3 50‐150 Hours=4 <50 Hours=5 Pilot Acro Time 1‐5 1 Over 500 Hours=1 300‐500 Hours=2 150‐300 Hours=3 50‐150 Hours=4 <50 Hours=5 Pilot Contests Flown 1‐5 1 0‐2=5, 3‐5=4, 5‐10=3, >10=1 5 or Fewer Contests Total 1‐3 1 Yes=3, No=1 <4 Contests in Current Category 1‐5 1 Fewer than 4=5, More than 3=1 Safety Pilot (Adv & Unl = 0) 1‐10 0 Primary & Sportsman‐Yes=1, No=10; Intermediate Solo=5; Adv & Unl=0 Category Flying 1‐5 1 Pri/Spt=5, Int=3, Adv=2, Unl=1 Pilot Score 6 Opera3ng Environment >10 MPH x‐wind in Box 1‐5 1 Yes=5, No=1‐4 >10 MPH x‐wind on Rwy in Use 1‐5 1 Yes=5, 5‐10 MPH=3, 0‐5 MPH=1 Narrow/Short Rwy 1‐5 1 <3k W=5, 3‐4k=3, >4k=1 Ramp Area/Dead Prop Zone 1‐5 1 Good=1, Fair=3, Poor=5 Local Ceiling/Vis 1‐5 1 3000/3=5, CAVU=1 Sca]ered Clouds in Area 1‐5 1 Yes=5, No=1 Local Density Al^tude From AWOS) 1‐5 1 0‐2,500 W=1, 2,500‐3,500=2, 3,500‐4,500=3, >4,500=5 Daily High Temperatures 1‐5 1 <75=1, 75‐85=3, >85=5 Environment Score 8 TOTAL 14

Pilot Score Enviro Score Total Score Low Hazard = 6‐19 Low Hazard = 8‐13 Low Hazard = 14‐32 Med Hazard = 20‐30 Med Hazard = 14‐24 Med Hazard = 34‐54 High Hazard = 30‐38 High Hazard = 25‐40 High Hazard = 55‐73

creased risk for those pilots and for traditionally strong winds in the af- knowledge this group needed to have the contest staff. Additionally, envi- ternoons will try to have the lower a fun and safe time at the contest. The ronmental factors such as lower ceil- category pilots fly in the morning to aerobatic risk assessment tool will ings, high-density altitude, strong avoid the stronger winds. Ramp space help contest staff identify pilot and winds, crosswinds on a single runway, and egress and ingress routes can be- environmental hazards ahead of time, congested ramp space, and other fac- come very important as a contest gets so that plans can be made to reduce or tors increase the risks at a specific con- moving. Our airplanes typically have eliminate the hazards. test or practice day site. The aerobatic limited visibility while taxiing, and we This risk assessment tool can be risk assessment tool can be used by pi- want to avoid head-on encounters as used by contest and practice day staff lots to determine their individual level much as possible. Setting up a circu- to ensure that they have made the of comfort and safety in a particular lar route for airplanes will eliminate decisions necessary to reduce risks contest environment. For example, a potential head-on issues, and the aer- where they can. Additionally, individ- relatively experienced Decathlon pi- obatic risk assessment tool can help ual pilots can use the aerobatic risk lot has just bought his first Pitts and identify such hazards. If a contest di- assessment tool to ensure they are is moving up to Intermediate from rector finds there are several new aer- making proper decisions, based on Sportsman. This scenario would show obatic pilots at his/her contest, the their skill, knowledge, and the local a slight increase in risk for the pilot. risks are increased, and steps can be environment. The generic form for Now throw in a new airport with a taken to reduce those risks, once iden- the aerobatic risk assessment tool narrow runway and some crosswinds, tified. At a Midwest contest two years is attached to this article and can be and the total risk for this pilot just in- ago, three aerobatic pilots arrived with downloaded from the IAC website in creased significantly. Using the aero- their coach and a Cessna Aerobat. Dur- the Safety Resources section. Please batic risk assessment tool allows our ing registration, it was learned that forward any comments or questions pilot to recognize that several factors this “college aerobatic team,” including about the Aerobatic Risk Assessment have all added up together to increase their coach, had never been to an IAC Tool to me at [email protected]. the hazards for his flight to the new contest, did not know the rules, the Your IAC safety staff, the safety contest site in his new airplane. box layout, or the basics of aerobatic chair, and the regional safety coaches For the contest director, the aero- competition. Knowing this ahead of are trying to help the IAC, already a batic risk assessment tool can help time, and recognizing that the coach very safe organization, become even him or her identify physical and en- would not be of much value, the team better. The safety staff can be your re- vironmental hazards at the local air- was assigned a group mentor, an ex- source, as a pilot or contest official, to port, as well as weather hazards as perienced IAC competition pilot, who help identify and eliminate hazards at they come up. Some contests that have provided the information and safety our contests and practice days. IAC

www.iac.org 7 Nomex Needs Care, Too Survival equipment by Allen Silver www.SilverParachutes.com

hen asked to con- tened and decided to modify the way tribute to this year’s he wore his survival equipment. A safety issue, many few months later I was thrilled to topics came to mind. receive a call from him stating Most of you know that those changes saved him by now I work with from serious burns and pos- parachutes.W What many of you do not sible death. know is that while in the Air Force, I Look carefully at Photos 1 also worked with other types of sur- and 2. These two photos show vival equipment. What I would like to the actual flight suit and hel- talk about in this issue is Nomex flying met worn by the pilot that sur- clothing and your helmet. You do wear vived the fiery crash of his P-47 them, don’t you? (see Photo 3). It’s amazing the Nomex is a very unique material condition of the flight suit com- that does not support combustion. It’s pared to the helmet. It shows no something that many of you wear and visible signs of fire damage. Now give little consideration or thought to. take a closer look at the helmet (in It’s not just something you wear to Photo 2) and you’ll see the fire dam- change the oil in your aircraft so your age. The paint was melting and run- clothes don’t get dirty or to see how ning down the side of the helmet, but tight you can wear it to impress your the pilot’s turned-up collar protected fans. It’s a lifesaving piece of equip- his neck. Most importantly, the visor ment that requires some tender lov- was down and it protected his eyes ing care. and face. This photo may not show Just as important as your flight clearly the damage to the visor, but suit is your helmet. Always wear your it is glazed over from the intense helmet! It’s not just another piece of heat. Imagine the injuries that he expensive equipment. Both your No- could have suffered if his visor had mex flight suit and helmet work in not been down and locked. harmony to protect your hide from To achieve the maximum getting scorched and your head from amount of protection you must getting severely injured should your understand that the proper aircraft stop suddenly, as in the case wearing of both your Nomex of an accident. Not wearing your hel- flight suit and gloves is vital to met because it’s uncomfortable is not a your survival. Look carefully valid excuse. This can be fixed by mak- at Photo 4. Exposing any part ing sure your helmet has been fitted of your body could have di- properly to your head to prevent hot sastrous results in the event spots and discomfort. Leaving it in the of an emergency. Many pi- trunk of your car is not a good choice. lots roll up their sleeves A number of years ago I gave a semi- and turn down their nar on the proper wearing of Nomex gloves, complaining flight suits and helmets. Someone lis- on a summer day that PHOTO 1

8 Sport Aerobatics May 2013 one else doing your laun- dry, make sure that person knows the special Nomex washing requirements. As previously mentioned No- mex doesn’t support combustion, but washing it with a nice sweet-smelling fabric softener can coat the material, and it will PHOTO 3 burn. That’s why you want to keep your flight suit The glove should be worn under your away from anything that can adhere flight suit. The extra length gives to it and burn. Most over-the-counter the maximum protection you might powder detergents will do the job just need when unlocking a hot metal fine. Just don’t get fancy. I suggest handle or anything else your lower washing it in cold/warm water by it- arm comes in contact with. self. You can dry it by hanging it up or Bring your attention to Photo 6 tumble it dry at a low heat and you’re PHOTO 2 where I’m pointing. It is very impor- good to go flying again. tant that the collar of your flight suit What about the gloves? Don’t toss be turned up to protect the back of them into the washing machine with it’s too hot wearing their flight suit your neck. If I didn’t have my collar your flight suit. They don’t do well as recommended. Being caught in a turned up, at least 3-4 inches of my in a washer. Put them on and wash fire is hot also! A little discomfort neck would be exposed. Wearing it your hands in the sink as you nor- is better than ending up in the burn turned up better protects you from mally would. Rinse them while still ward of a hospital. Flight gloves are liquid running into your flight suit. on your hands, then carefully remove extra long for a reason. In Photo 5 Now that you have finished flying, them trying not to stretch them out of you see my left arm has the glove on and the odors from your flight suit shape. Lay them flat on a towel to ab- the outside of my flight suit. This have been keeping your friends at a sorb excess moisture, and they will dry is the way many people assume you distance, some of you might actually just fine. Don’t wring them out as this wear them. In case of a fire, hot liq- decide that washing your flight suit is could stretch and damage the leather. uid could run down your sleeve and not a bad idea. You need to pay care- If you have any questions, please into your gloves. Again, the gloves are ful attention to the washing instruc- call or e-mail me. All my contact in- designed extra long for a reason. Now tions the manufacturer recommends. formation is on my website at www. look at my right arm in the photo. If you’re lucky enough to have some- SilverParachutes.com. IAC PHOTOS COURTESY ALLEN SILVER COURTESY PHOTOS PHOTO 4 PHOTO 5 PHOTO 6 www.iac.org 9 The Modern World Aerobatic Championships A walk through history By Gordon Penner FAA Gold Seal CFI, Past Two-Time Master CFI-Aerobatic, and and Lorrie Penner Assistant Contest Director, 2013 World Aerobatic Championships

In the movie Top Gun, fighter pilot rested for risking Army property, but aerobatic competitions were held “Iceman” asked “Maverick,” “Who’s was later promoted to captain and be- throughout the 1930s, most fa- the best pilot?” came an international hero. mously in Berlin together with the In October 2013 the World Aero- By the end of World War I in 1918 1936 Olympics, until World War II batic Championships, or WAC, will the “Red Baron,” Manfred von Rich- intervened in 1939. be coming to America. Sherman/ thofen, along with his friends and his After World War II aerobatics Dennison, Texas, will host up to 100 enemies, were doing a full suite of aer- in America suffered a serious body of the world’s best pilots. Let’s look obatic maneuvers in much improved blow. A pilot who had a tenuous into the modern World Aerobatic airplanes. The winner of a dogfight connection to the air show crashed Championships and see how it has got a higher score of kills and was al- into the crowd in Flagler, Colorado, developed through the years, going lowed to continue living. Thankfully, in 1951 while performing an aero- through two world wars in the pro- a less lethal measure of pilot excel- batic maneuver. Twenty people were cess, to become what it is today. lence came about after the war. killed, some of them children, and On October 14, 1905, the FAI, or In America aerobatics were nor- another 50 were injured. The event Fédération Aéronautique Internatio- mally performed as a spectacle along stopped U.S. national competitions nale, was formed. Its job is to verify with air races in the 1920s and and limited most nonmilitary air and catalog all aviation records, and 1930s. Army pilots Jimmy Doolit- shows until the early 1960s. set standards for those records. Mod- tle, along with Flying Tigers founder The opposite occurred in Europe, ern World Aerobatic Championships Claire Chennault and his Three Men where many competitions started up records, under the FAI, are those that of the Flying Trapeze became quite in the 1950s, the most prestigious have been held since 1960. famous for aerobatics in that era. of which was the Lockheed Trophy Even though airplane flight began It was in Europe that aerobat- competition in Britain. in America, it was the Europeans who ics were set up as a competitive The Lockheed Trophy contest, really developed and expanded aero- Olympics-style competition. Both along with similar competitions in the batic flying in the years between 1906 Germany and France developed 1950s, were judged more on artistic and World War I. In 1913 Adolphe Pé- mathematical judging systems in impression than on precision. Modern goud did the first inverted flight, and 1928. 1934 saw the first real world aerobatic contests are more like the Russian Army pilot Petr Nesterov did competition, with two pilots los- pre-World War II European contests, the first loop. Nesterov was first ar- ing their lives in the contest. World where the precision flying of stan-

10 Sport Aerobatics May 2013 dard maneuvers is the judging The 1960s standard. Since airplanes were The first postwar, mod- becoming more and more capa- ern-format World Aerobatic ble, a standard “language” had Championships (and the to be created. The first postwar first to be sanctioned by the system used internationally FAI) was held in Bratislava, was that from Francois d’Huc Czechoslovakia, in 1960. The Dressler. Dressler died in 1957. first world aerobatic cham- His system was used from 1955 pion was a Czechoslovakian to 1962. pilot, Ladislav Bezak, flying a Starting in 1964, and con- Zlin 226T. The rest of the Czech tinuing to this day, the FAI team was close behind in Zlin adapted the “Sistema Aresti” 226As. The aircraft were well- for judging world competi- flown by the Czechs, who won tions. It is now just called the the Nesterov Cup for 1960, Aresti system, and it was de- 1964, and 1978, and won the veloped by Spanish air force Aresti Cup in 1960, 1978, 1984, Col. Jose Luis Aresti. It is very and 1986. They were definitely a precise mathematically as well force to be reckoned with. as geometrically. The Zlins were a world- The unofficial two-track -aer beating advance in aerobatic obatic system, where compe- technology, capable of many tition is judged by very rigid new maneuvers, especially in mathematical standards and the vertical. The Zlin 226s, air show-type flying is judged 326s, 526s, and Zlin 50s bat-

more on artistry, is now in place MIKE HEUER COURTESY tled with the Russian Yak-18s worldwide. The bridge between Ladislav Bezak and Yak-50s to be the winning the two is the 4-Minute Free- airplanes on the world stage style, otherwise known as the Final Freestyle sequence is presented with from 1960 until the 1990s. The only Freestyle. The regular Known, Free the Manfred Stroessenreuther Cup. real interruption in this battle was Program, and Unknown sequences Named for the late German aerobatic when the Pitts S-1S won in the 1970s. are judged by the Aresti standard. champion who excelled at this event, it The rise of the Sukhois, the Extras, The 4-Minute Freestyle, on the other was donated by the South African Aero and the CAPs came in the 1990s. hand, is judged on a more artistic ba- Club through the Deutscher Aero Club. In 1960 Ladislav Bezak was the sis, similar to the old Lockheed Trophy A separate women’s championship was first pilot to use the “lomcevak” ma- contests. Tumbling maneuvers like the started in 1966, and since 1986 its win- neuver in a world event, although lomcevak are allowed in the 4-Minute ner has been presented with the Royal other pilots had been developing the Freestyle, as is smoke. The 4-Minute Aero Club Trophy. maneuver in the mid-’50s and flown Freestyle also has its own win- it for the Lockheed Trophy. It ner and its own trophy. is not in the Aresti catalog but Speaking of trophies, start- does get flown in the 4-Minute ing in 1964 the individual win- Freestyle. ner of the world competition In an article, Bezak wrote in is presented with the Aresti regards to the name of the ma- Cup. Donated by Col. Aresti, it neuver, “I am afraid my own is covered with gold and silver sister is responsible for this accents. The trophy is a work one, but I must say I rather of art as well as being the top like it. award. The winning men’s team “. . . My sister, a nice and in the World Aerobatic Cham- gentle lady, but who does not pionship is presented with the know anything about flying, Nesterov Cup. It was donated and who does not speak the by Russia to the FAI in 1962 Moravian dialect at all (lomce- and named for Russian aero- vak is a purely Moravian word),

batic hero Petr Nesterov. MIKE HEUER COURTESY repeated what she thought The winner of the 4-Minute Frank Price at Bratislava in 1960. she had heard and, Voilà! The

www.iac.org 11 name is variously translated as ‘log in the head,’ ‘headache,’ or ‘look at that drunk trying to walk,’ depending on which Czech you talk to.” The Americans were the poor stepchildren when it came to the world aerobatic stage in this era. The photo- graph on page 11 shows Amer- ican Frank Price standing alone (left), but proud, behind the American flag at Bratislava in 1960. The foreign national teams had been practicing EAA PHOTO EAA daily for years. Frank had The 1970 U.S. Aerobatic team won the World Charlie Hillard flown air shows between crop dusting gigs. Championships held in Hullavington, England. Frank got to Bratislava at Frank Price also went to Holly- Kortschuganova. On the left side of considerable personal expense. He wood. In the Robert Redford picture, the Atlantic the first Pitts S-1Ss were flew his aircraft, a Great Lakes bi- The Great Waldo Pepper, Frank did now being flown, most notably by plane, to the east coast from Texas, the aerobatic flying for the fictional Bob Herendeen, Mary Gaffaney, and took it apart, and put it on a Pan Am German ace “Ernst Kessler” as well Gene Soucy. transport. Once across the Atlantic as some of the Jenny flying. 1968 closed out the decade with he put the airplane back together 1962 was the year of the Hungar- another home team win. The con- and then flew it to Bratislava. ians. The contest was held in Buda- test was held in Magdeburg, East He was flying behind the Iron Cur- pest, Hungary. The winner of the Germany, and the Aresti Cup went tain at the height of the Cold War. Af- Aresti Cup was Hungarian Josef Toth to East German Erwin Blaeske flying terward, he did not have the money to in a Zlin 226T, and the Nesterov Cup a Zlin 526A. The Nesterov Cup went get his airplane home. Seven months was won by the Hungarian team. The to the East German team. The wom- later he was able to get his Great U.S. team consisted of Duane Cole, en’s world championship was won by Lakes home. It’s difficult to look at Lindsey Parsons, and Rod Jocelyn. Madelyne Delcroix of France. that photo and not feel a sense of Lindsey Parsons flew very well and gratitude for Frank’s determination placed fifth against a number of Zlin The 1970s to make the United States a part of and Yak monoplanes while flying the The second decade of the mod- the World Aerobatic Championships 1930s-designed Great Lakes. The ern WAC opened in 1970 at Hullav- from the very beginning. others also did reasonably well in ington, England, with Soviet pilot Frank Price brought back valu- their older designs, but it was clear Igor Egorov winning the Aresti Cup. able information on the advanced it would be a while before the Ameri- Charlie Hillard placed third overall. state of aerobatics in Europe and cans were competitive. The Americans were up and coming. the U.S.S.R. Both nations were far In 1964 the contest was held in The IAC was also in its formative ahead of America in that regard. He Bilbao, Spain, and Spaniard Tomas stages at this point. also brought back the lomcevak and Castano won the Aresti Cup in a Zlin The United States team of Bob Her- the beginnings of the Aresti system. 226T. Bezak and his team were back endeen, Charlie Hillard, and Gene Most important of all, he formed an to win the Nesterov Cup for Czecho- Soucy took the Nesterov Cup. Many aerobatics club based on the British slovakia again. 1966 was where we think that but for an engine failure Tiger Club to promote and organize began to see the rise of the Russian Bob Herendeen would have been aerobatics in the United States. It Yak-18, which is a derivative of a mili- world champion in 1970. By now the was called the American Tiger Club. tary trainer. The contest was held in Pitts Special S-1S had become the de Later, the EAA formed the Precision Moscow, U.S.S.R. The winner of the facto American team airplane, and its Flying Division, and the Aerobatic Aresti Cup was Russian Vladimir Mar- unusual performance was having its Club of America was formed. The temianov, flying a Yak-18M. The Nest- effect on the WAC. first American to win the World Aer- erov Cup went to the Russian team. In 1972, in Salon de Provence, obatic Championships, Charlie Hill- 1966 was also the first year we France, the Americans dominated ard, was an alumnus of all of these saw a female world champion, won the WAC. Charlie Hillard became organizations. that year by Russian pilot Galina the first American to become world

12 Sport Aerobatics May 2013 champion. Hillard, with his Manfred Stroessenreuther, for teammates Gene Soucy and whom the Manfred Stroess- Tom Poberezny, took the Nest- enreuther Cup is named, took erov Cup for America for the second. They were both flying second time. The U.S. team in- the Zlin 50. Soviet women’s pi- cluded Hillard, Soucy, Pober- lots Khalide Makagonova and ezny, Art Scholl, Bill Thomas, Liubov Nemkova took first and Mary Gaffaney, and Carolyn second in the women’s champi- Salisbury. Mary Gaffaney won onship, flying the new Yak-55. gold medals in her first two Debby Rihn-Harvey took third flights and became the first in a Pitts S1-S. WAC XII saw American to win the Women’s the introduction of the Sukhoi world aerobatic championship, Su-26. The United States men’s and placed fifth overall. team of Kermit Weeks, Henry The 1974 WAC was can- Haigh, and Alan Bush took celed for political reasons. In home the Nesterov Cup for the 1976, the WAC was held in fourth time. Kiev, U.S.S.R., and the Sovi- In 1986, WAC XIII was held ets responded to the Pitts with in South Cerney, England, the introduction of the Yak-50. where the weather was a fac- Unfortunately, 1976 was the tor. Petr Jirmus of Czechoslo- year remembered primarily for vakia repeated his individual Cold War judging controversy, men’s title, and did it in a Zlin with everything going heav- 50LS. The Nesterov Cup was ily in the Russians favor. It got won by the Soviet team of so bad that the world commu- Victor Smolin, Nikolai Niki- nity voted in the Tarasov-Bauer tiuk, and Sergei Boriak. Ser- statistical scoring programs to gei Boriak later moved to the identify and ameliorate judging Leo Loudenslager United States and became a bias. The Tarasov-Bauer system sought-after aerobatic coach. was voted in for the 1978 WAC. Linda Meyers-Morrissey In 1978, the WAC went to Ceske won a gold medal in the Unknown, Budejovice, Czechoslovakia, and in a beautiful flight following a mis- Czech pilot Ivan Tucek took the Ar- take in the Free Program. 1986 was esti Cup in a Zlin 50. The Zlin 50 was also the first year that the Women’s beginning its time as one of the top world aerobatic champion was pre- aircraft, winning again in 1985 and sented with the Royal Aero Club Tro- 1986. Kermit Weeks of the United phy. Liubov Nemkova of the U.S.S.R. States took second in the Weeks Spe- was the winner. cial, a derivative of the Pitts. The Nest- influence can still be seen in the Extra 1988 was another great year for erov Cup was won by the Czech team. design series. His teammates Henry the U.S. team. In addition, the WAC The Soviets dominated the women’s Haigh and Kermit Weeks completed a had returned to the North Ameri- division in the Yak-50, with Valentina U.S. sweep of the top three spots and can continent for the second time Yaikova winning the top spot. won the Nesterov Cup. Betty Stewart and was held in Red Deer, Alberta, won her first women’s world champi- Canada. The United States team did The 1980s onship title. well, with Henry Haigh finally win- In 1980 the World Aerobatic The 1982 WAC was held in ning the long-pursued Aresti Cup. Championships came to America Spitzerberg, Austria. Soviet pilot He had an excellent Unknown flight for the first time. The site was Osh- Victor Smolin won the Aresti Cup in his personally designed Super Star kosh, Wisconsin. Unfortunately, the in a Yak-50. The Nesterov Cup was monoplane. America now had three contest was boycotted by the Soviet won by the Soviet team. America’s world champions. The U.S. men’s team and their east European allies. Betty Stewart again won the wom- team of Haigh, Kermit Weeks, and Leo Loudenslager became the sec- en’s championship. Clint McHenry took the Nesterov ond American to become the world In 1984 WAC XII was held in Cup. Patrick Paris of France, who we champion. Leo also introduced his La- Békéscsaba, Hungary. Czech pilot Petr will hear more of, won the 4-Minute ser 200 midwing monoplane, whose Jirmus took first and West German Free in a CAP 231.

www.iac.org 13 The winner of the Royal Aero Roland of France in another Club Trophy was Catherine CAP 232. Maunoury of France. In the first ever awarding of the FAI The 2000s Challenge Cup, newcomer El- In the 2000s the Nesterov len Dean joined Linda Meyers- Cup was still being passed back Morrissey and Patty Wagstaff to and forth between the French take the women’s team trophy. and the Russians, but the Ar- Even though the United esti Cup got to see people from States had a good year, the other countries, and we began development of the Russian to see the Extra 330s and the Sukhoi, the French CAP 231, occasional MXS. Also, start- and the Extra 300 clearly indi- ing in 2001 the WAC changed cated Europe was progressing to be held in odd-numbered beyond the capabilities of the Xaviar deLapparent with the Aresti Cup. years. The World Advanced 200-hp airplane. Aerobatic Championships, or WAAC, is now held in even- The 1990s numbered years. The fourth decade of world At the 2000 WAC held in aerobatics seemed to only Muret, France. Most of the top come in two flavors, French or 10 finishers would be on the Russian. At this point the Rus- French team in CAP 232s. Eric sians are Russians, not Sovi- Vazeille won the Aresti Cup, and ets. Here was where we saw the the French team won the Nest- domination of the French CAP erov Cup. The women’s cham- 231/232s and the Russian Su- pion was Catherine Maunoury, 26/Su-31s, which continued but the women’s team trophy well into the 2000s. This state was won by the Russians. of affairs held for both the Ar- Sergey Rakhmanin 2001 saw the WAC in Bur- esti Cup results and those of gos, Spain. Mikhail Mamistov the Nesterov Cup. In this era of Russia won the Aresti Cup we also see the rise and domination the women’s team championship. in the Su-31, and the Russian team of Russian ballerina Svetlana Ka- The 1996 WAC was held in Okla- won the Nesterov Cup. Of course, panina in the Sukhoi, who won the homa City, Oklahoma, but it was Svetlana Kapanina won the wom- women’s championship six times. an all Russian show. Victor Chmal en’s championship. The only non- The 1990 WAC was in Yverdon, of Russia won the Aresti Cup in his Russian result was the 4-Minute Switzerland, in 1990. The French Su-26. The Nesterov Cup was won by Free, which was won by Klaus Sch- won, with Claude “Coco” Bessiere, the Russian team that included Niko- rodt of Germany in an Extra 330 XS. the well-liked Frenchman, taking the lai Timofeev. Nikolai Timofeev now In 2003, the WAC came back to Aresti Cup in a CAP 231. The French lives in Florida, is a sought-after aer- North America. It was held at the team won the Nesterov Cup. Linda obatic coach, and is on the 2013 U.S. Sun ’n Fun International Fly-In & Meyers-Morrissey took second in Unlimited team. Svetlana Kapanina Expo facility in Lakeland, Florida. her new CAP 231 to Natalya Serge- won the Royal Aero Club Trophy, and The Aresti Cup was won by Ser- eva of the Soviet Union in a Sukhoi Russia also won the women’s cham- gey Rakhmanin of Russia in an Su- Su-26. pionship team trophy. 31, and the Russian team won the In 1992 the competition was held The 1998 WAC was held in Nesterov Cup. Svetlana again won in Le Havre, France, but could not Trencin, Slovakia, and was split by the Royal Aero Club Trophy for the be completed due to bad weather. the French and the Russians. It was fourth time. The 1994 WAC was held in Debre- Patrick Paris in his CAP 232 that In 2003 the competitors and vol- cen, Hungary. Xaviar deLapparent won the Aresti Trophy. The Nesterov unteers had a good time at Busch took the Aresti Cup for France, and Cup was won by the Russian team Gardens during the downtime, and the French team won the Nesterov again. Svetlana Kapanina won the the volunteers were hosted by Ker- Cup. Patty Wagstaff took second Royal Aero Club Trophy as the top fe- mit Weeks at his new Fantasy of in the women’s championship for male finisher, and the Russian wom- Flight facility up the road in Polk the United States behind Christine en’s team also won. The winner of City, Florida. Genin of France, and the French won the 4-Minute Free was Dominique The 2005 WAC was again held

14 Sport Aerobatics May 2013 in Burgos, Spain, and was a repeat of 2003. Russian champion Ser- gey Rakhmanin of Russia, flying an Su 26M, won the Aresti Cup. The Russian team won the Nesterov Cup. Svetlana again won the Royal Aero Club Trophy for the fifth time. Like 2001 the only non-Russian result was the 4-Minute Free, which was again won by Klaus Schrodt of Ger- many in an Extra 330 XS. In 2007 there was a break in the Russian domination. The WAC was held in Granada, Spain, and the Ar- esti Cup was won by Ramon Alonso of Spain in an Su-31. Hooray for the hometown boy, eh? The Nesterov Cup

was won by the French team. The IMAGESHACK.US GRONDEAU, ANTOINE United States got a top result when In 2009 Frenchman Renaud Ecalle won the Aresti Cup. the 4-Minute Free was won by Zach Heffley in an Su-26. Svetlana Kapa- with a vengeance, but it was good to lots from many different countries nina won the Royal Aero Club Trophy see American Rob Holland as the win- committed to attend, in spite of that for the sixth time. ner of the 4-Minute Free flying the ocean-thing being in the way. The The 2009 WAC was held at Silver- MXS. 2001 Aresti Cup winner Rus- volunteer rolls are filling up nicely, stone in the United Kingdom and was sian Mikhail Mamistov came back to but we can always use some more. a sad one for the U.S. team. U.S. WAC win the Aresti Cup a second time. The Many who have attended these team member and 2007 U.S. Unlim- Russian team won the Nesterov Cup. world events over the years have com- ited National Champion Vicki Cruise mented on how much fun it is meeting was killed while flying the contest in a Conclusion people from all these different coun- borrowed Edge 540 aircraft. Since the 2013 World Aerobatic tries. Since everyone is in aviation, 2009 was a mostly French show. Championships is being held at the there is a common meeting ground. Renaud Ecalle won the Aresti Cup in site that already hosts the U.S. Na- Frank Price said he found that even an Extra 330SC, and the French team tional Championships, the infra- though governments may be differ- won the Nesterov Cup. Renaud Ecalle structure for planes and pilots is ent, people are the same, and you can also won the 4-Minute Free, again fly- already in place. It will be held in Oc- get a long way with a smile. The WAC ing the Extra. Russian Elena Klimovich tober so there will be an escape from doesn’t come to North America that won the women’s championship. the mid-summer heat. often, so if you can, come meet some The 2011 WAC was held in Fo- It already looks like the WAC will of your aviation brothers and sisters. ligno, Italy. The Russians were back be a well-attended event, with pi- You’ll be glad you did! IAC

RESOURCES http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAI_World_Aerobatic_Championships http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aresti_Catalog http://www.fai.org/championships-awards/aresti-cup http://www.fai.org/championships-awards/nesterov-trophy http://www.fai.org/championships-awards/manfred-stroessenreuther-trophy http://www.fai.org/championships-awards/royal-aero-club-trophy http://www.fai.org/about-fai/history http://www.aerobatics.org.uk/baea_teams_abroad.htm http://www.franklinairshow.com/History%20of%20Aerobatics.htm http://proairshow.com/Flagler%20Lions%20Club%20Airshow.htm http://web.archive.org/web/19961029024915/http://www.airspacemag.com/Expo/WAC/stakes.html#4MinCup http://web.archive.org/web/19961029023841/http://www.airspacemag.com/Expo/WAC/Debby.html#Enter http://web.archive.org/web/19961029023431/http://www.airspacemag.com/Expo/WAC/Pitts.html#PittsS1 http://www.hickoksports.com/history/aerobatic.shtml http://jmrc.tripod.com/fa/aero/aero4.htm http://www.allinflight.com/acrob/ACRO_INGL/acr_campmond.htm http://www.france-voltige.org/Docs/OriginsWAC.pdf http://web.archive.org/web/19961029022751/http://www.airspacemag.com/Expo/WAC/Home.html#Enter

www.iac.org 15 The Starter

Your last chance at a safe flight By Gary DeBaun, IAC 4145 Photos Laurie Zaleski

To some competitors the starter present on the starting line. have consequence. Some fire extin- is just a person who tells them when guishing agents are highly corrosive they can start their engine and head Don’t try to use or carry around and damaging to the induction sys- out to the hold area; others know their one of those big fire extinguishers you tem. Should you have to extinguish true value to them and the contest. find at the fueling pit. A small, por- an induction fire, make it a point to When it comes to safety, the starter is table, 5-pound dry chemical fire extin- notify the chief technical monitor. The your last chance for a safe flight. guisher is sufficient for putting out an aircraft at this point should be consid- The starter has many responsibili- induction fire. ered unairworthy. ties. Some are spelled out in the IAC It is a good idea to discuss engine contest rule book; others not so obvi- fire procedures during the morn- Final briefings, including notifying ous will be detailed in this article. ing briefing. Make it a point to dem- each competitor of changes to the offi- Let’s review the rule book, section onstrate standard engine fire hand cial direction of the wind and challeng- 1.12, as to the starter’s written re- signals and how you will handle an en- ing each competitor to ensure that his sponsibilities, and expand on them as gine fire should one occur. or her parachute and safety belts are we progress. Induction fires may occur during properly fastened. Safety will be the primary con- hot-start situations, so the starter sideration of the starter at all should be ready. Give the pilot time to Things change during the course of times. The starter is responsible apply the correct induction fire proce- the competition, which the competi- for: dure for the aircraft in an attempt to tor is not always aware of, especially suck the fire out. new competitors. The starter should Ensuring that a fire extinguisher is Using the fire extinguisher does stay on top of weather conditions.

16 Sport Aerobatics May 2013 Changes in wind conditions can occur in the box and not on the ground. If conditions have changed, make sure the competitor knows this. The starter should challenge the pilot on proper frequencies, taxi and runway usage, hold areas, sterile areas, and recall procedures. It’s a good idea to also look at the pilot’s sequence card to ensure the correct B or C card is being used. This is especially true for new competitors. The above statement can be modi- fied. The starter can elect what information is necessary, depending upon the contest and category being flown. For example, at the Nationals, when team selection is in progress, I will visually check Advanced or Unlimited competitors, talking with them only when I feel it necessary in relation- ship to safety so that I don’t disturb their concentration. Fuel quantity can come into play in all categories due to judging delays or a figure break from the contestant in the box. For example, if I know the pilot about to enter the box is fairly new, or flying a relatively underpowered aircraft, I will quiz the pilot I am about to release as to fuel quantity—and to make sure he or she knows of the situation. I take all this into consideration before I launch a competitor. This is a safety issue as we do not want pilots running out of fuel in the middle of their flight. There are many things going on in competitors’ heads as they ready for aerial battle. Even with a checklist, things may be overlooked. As a starter, Finally, although not a require- stick jammed back there once. one of the responsibilities is to chal- ment, the starter should do a final lenge competitors as to the security of walk-around of the aircraft to ensure The timely release of each competitor their safety belts. I take this to mean the pitot cover, gust locks, and any in order to take off at intervals set by the a verbal challenge. On two-place air- other “remove before flight” items are chief judge. planes, you must always check the se- removed. I have on several instances curity of the belts in the front cockpit. found the above during my final walk- I’ve never had a chief judge set in- Although very rare, there have been around. As an added note, if the air- tervals. It’s obvious that the starter instances when the pilot performs the craft has a Lexan inspection panel in must maintain the aircraft flow in safety check before box entry and finds the tail (FOD checks), I will always such a manner so as to not impede the front belts have not been secured. take a last minute peek. I found a fuel the progress of the contest. This is al-

www.iac.org 17 The AIRCRAFT. If the pilot is flying a low-powered aircraft, you must real- ize it will take longer to climb to the hold, and therefore you must launch them sooner than you would a more high-powered aircraft. Some aircraft take longer warm-up times, and you must take this into consideration. Ask the pilot if he or she needs some warm-up time—beforehand—so you can account for this. The PILOT. Each competitor is different. It helps to know the pilot and his or her personal quirks. Some are quick in getting strapped in and ready, while others like to do yoga and hand- fly their sequence after you tell them it’s time to strap in. Some take forever to adjust their headsets while doing ways a challenge to the starter. I have sider before launching a competitor: a final stare at their sequence card. actually seen starters burst into tears The CATEGORY. If Primary or It really helps to know their style in and quit in the middle of the contest Sportsman, spend a little more time order to get them launched on time. because of their inability to control the with these folks to ensure they under- However, never rush a competitor. I’ll process. Although this is not a safety stand everything and are ready to fly. let the chief judge yell at me before I issue, here are just a few things to con- Do not rush them. ever try to rush a competitor into tax-

18 Sport Aerobatics May 2013 ing off before he or she is ready. to fix the fault, and calling the chief tech- should an incident occur. nical monitor or technical committee In the event of an aircraft malfunction member to investigate. Beyond the Scope of prior to takeoff, advising the chief judge the Rule Book of the change in the order of flight and Yes, safety is the issue here. After I just want to point out a few items launching the next competitor. a pilot aborts for a mechanical issue, that I feel are related to safety that are the starter must ensure the chief tech not in the rule book. If the starter sees that a competitor is advised. The chief technical moni- may not launch in a reasonable time, it tor/committee must investigate the The Hold Area and Usage by the is the starter’s responsibility to change problem and determine if the aircraft Starter the order of flight. The starter must is or is not airworthy. It should be Most regional contests use one hold notify the chief judge as soon as possi- pointed out that no single person on area. That usually works well because ble so paperwork changes can be made the committee should make this deci- of the lower number of contestants. At on the judging line before the next sion. Always get a consensus as to the the Nationals two holds are the norm. competitor enters the box. It is then airworthiness of the aircraft. I personally like to have the option of the starter’s responsibility to insert two hold areas even at the regional that competitor back into the lineup as Duties as specified in the contest inci- level. This allows the starter some flex- soon as is possible. dent response plan. ibility. For instance, Pitts N260AB is next to be launched and carrying two Meeting aircraft landing after a me- The starter should be provided pilots, one new to our sport and the chanical abort, advising the competitor with a copy of the IRP and under- other is the safety pilot. As the starter to stay with the aircraft and not attempt stand his or her responsibilities I recognize a bit more time is needed

www.iac.org 19 cases. I feel that if it is possible, two holds should always be an option for the starter.

Briefing Card A briefing card is another tool that the starter can use to help avoid con- fusion. This is a half-sheet of paper with the taxiways, runways, hold areas, frequencies, and other important information. These can be handed out during the initial morning briefings or during the launch process. If I had a nickel for every time a pilot getting ready to launch has asked me the box frequency… Hopefully I have touched on many of the items that are of value to a starter. It is by no means everything to “adapt” to the situation. If I have a few “breaks” in the sequence that the a starter should do, just a guide from the option of a second hold I can send starter was not anticipating and has years of personal experience. If you that pilot early to give the new pilot a one already in hold and has launched find yourself a contest director and little breathing space. another competitor. This could be a must select a starter, please choose On the other hand, I like a second safety issue if a second hold is not wisely as the starter can sometimes hold in case the pilot in the box takes available. These are just two of many make or break a contest. IAC

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A look into glider aerobatic safety

by Lukas von Atzigan

When it comes to safety in aerobatic gliders, there are We all know that it is important during preflight to few differences from powered aerobatics other than that secure anything loose, but when it comes to aerobat- there isn’t an engine to quit; that being said, however, a ics, the level of importance is increased. Anything loose glider—like its powered counterpart—can still stall. We that was overseen or ignored during preparation and are most vulnerable while in inverted flight. Everything preflight can now become an object of distraction, a mis- on the glider that worked in the positive g environment sile, or a block of control elements. The battery is one of is now subject to the opposite forces. The first thing those objects that requires particular attention as it is I teach students who want to learn about unusual at- routinely removed from the glider for recharging. In an titudes is how to get out of an inverted attitude. For aerobatic glider it is advisable to invest in proven battery pilots untrained in aerobatics, the automatic reaction to containment; stay away from some of the adventurous get out of the situation is to pull, which could be fatal as homemade designs as seen in some regular gliders. it has the potential risk to overspeed and overload the If possible, leave anything not essentially needed on glider, causing it to break up in the air. the ground. On days that have a potential for staying

22 Sport Aerobatics May 2013 airborne for an extended amount of time, it is advisable to carry some water on board. I use a water bag that is secured behind the seat and run the drinking hose underneath the seat belt to avoid it dangling around. Make sure not to route the drinking hose underneath the parachute MAINTENANCE harness as it may become an obstacle if you have to bail AEROBATICS Basic through Unlimited FACILITIES out. Some water bags have extra pockets that can hold a Competition & Sport We specialize in phone or wallet. Don’t forget to close those pockets; oth- Safety & Proficiency Fabric erwise, you may share an experience where my phone hit Basic & Advanced Spins Tailwheel me in the head before it fell to my feet. It put an end to Aerobatic Aircraft Repair my flight as I could not retrieve and secure it, and I had to land. Although upset about giving away an opportunity to Pitts S-2B thermal back up for another routine, I was glad that the Super Decathlon phone didn’t block any of the glider’s controls. Citabria Owned and operated by Debbie Rihn-Harvey After I release from tow and each time I arrive at altitude for an AC_HarveyRihn.indd 1 1/4/05 7:28:28 AM aerobatic sequence, I go through an aerobatics checklist . . . Black Golfshirt with Wrap-around Flying Design In some gliders the tow release knob is hard to reach This black polo shirt for taller pilots that sit farther back. I’ve seen some of with contrasting these knobs extended with strings. I heard an anecdote stitching and wrap- of a situation where such an extension almost caused around Pitts design an accident. A pilot flying a Pilatus B4 inverted radioed is style and comfort. to his colleague on the ground that his controls were blocked. His colleagues told him to bail out, but the pilot SM - 7266580702093 flying in a stable position refused to give up and assessed MD - 3093 the situation. He quickly found that the tow release ex- LG - 4093 XL - 5093 tension had wrapped around the wheel brake lever that 2X – 6093 was installed on the stick. He was able to unwrap the string and save the day. $34.99 Another item to consider, that was brought to my attention by the glider community, is the uncontrolled Order by phone: deployment of the spoilers. Although they should remain 800-843-3612 firmly locked in place even in a negative g situation, if it

www.iac.org 23 happens, it likely will be a noisy event. At that point it is advisable to roll to upright position and take a break in the sequence to close the spoilers and lock them. While As inverted flight is the firm locking of the spoilers is checked before takeoff, it should be part of the aerobatics checklist that is used uncomfortable, I tend to limit after the tow release. After I release from tow and each time I arrive at alti- the time I spend upside down. tude for an aerobatic sequence, I go through an aerobatics checklist: •Belts: A last check that the belts are secured and tight. •Canopy: Check the canopy locks and make sure they are secure. •Spoilers: Check for the proper locking of the spoilers. •Landing gear: Check the gear is up and locked. •G-meter: Reset the g-meter. •Traffic: A final check that the practice area is clear of traffic. As inverted flight is uncomfortable, I tend to limit the time I spend upside down. So my inverted flying is not as refined as with positive g’s. The airfoil of my glider is built with a

24 Sport Aerobatics May 2013 We Can Teach ANYONE to Land A Pitts or Skybolt, Eagle, Model 12, Extra, etc. “We emphasize stick and rudder basics.”

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www.iac.org 25 26 Sport Aerobatics May 2013 The Winner‘s Propeller! Fly the Champions‘ Choice! like Patty Wagstaff as shown here with her Extra 300S!!

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www.iac.org 27 BUY NOW & SAVE!

CONTEST CALENDAR

Mark your calendars for these upcoming contests. For a complete list of contests and for the most up-to-date contest calendar, visit www.IAC.org. If your chapter is hosting a contest, be sure to let the world know by posting your event on the IAC website.

Midwest Aerobatic Championship Hoosier Hoedown Friday, June 28 - Sunday, June 30, 2013 Saturday, August 10 - Sunday, August 11, 2013 Practice/Registration: Friday, June 28 Practice/Registration: Friday, August 9 Power: Primary through Unlimited Power: Primary through Unlimited Location: Seward (SWT), Seward, Nebraska Location: Kokomo Municipal Airport (OKK), Kokomo, Indiana Region: Mid-America Region: Mid-America Contest Director: David Moll Contest Director: Mike Wild Contact Information: Primary Phone: 402-613-5422 Contact Information: Primary Phone: 765-860-3231 E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] Website: IAC80.org Website: www.hoosierhammerheads.com

Green Mountain Aerobatic Contest Doug Yost Challenge July 29-August 4 | AirVenture.org/tickets Friday, July 12 - Sunday, July 14, 2013 Saturday, August 17 - Sunday, August 18, 2013 Practice/Registration: Thursday, July 11 - Friday, July 12 Practice/Registration: Thursday, August 15 - Friday, August 16 Glider Categories: Sportsman through Unlimited Power: Primary through Unlimited Power: Primary through Unlimited Location: Spencer Municipal Airport (SPW), Spencer, IA Location: Hartness State Airport (VSF), Springfield, VT Region: Mid-America Region: Northeast Contest Director: Aaron McCartan Contest Director: Bill Gordon Contact Information: Primary Phone: 515-570-3537 Contact Information: Primary Phone: 803 585 0366 E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.iac78.org Website: http://iac35.aerobaticsweb.org Beaver State Aerobatic Contest Salem Regional Aerobatic Contest Friday, August 23 - Saturday, August 24, 2013 Saturday, July 13 - Sunday, July 14, 2013 Practice/Registration: Thursday, August 22 Practice/Registration: Friday, July 12 Rain/Weather: Sunday, August 25 Power: Primary through Unlimited Power: Primary through Unlimited Location: Salem-Leckrone Airport (SLO), Salem, IL Location: Eastern Oregon Regional Airport (PDT), Pendleton, OR Region: Mid-America Region: Northwest Contest Director: Bruce Ballew Contest Director: John Smutny Contact Information: Primary Phone: 314.369.3723 Contact Information: Primary Phone: 206.399.7097 E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.iac77.eaachapter.org/ Tora! Tora! Tora! returns High Planes HotPoxia Fest Saturday, July 13 - Sunday, July 14, 2013 2013 Upper Canada Open Practice/Registration: Friday, July 12 Saturday, August 24 - Sunday, August 25, 2013 Catch CAF’s ‘Ghost Squadron’ Power: Primary through Unlimited Practice/Registration: Friday, August 23 B-29 Superfortress FIFI and B-24 Liberator Diamond Lil Location: Sterling Municipal Airport (STK), Sterling, CO Power: Primary through Unlimited Region: South Central Location: Chatham Kent Municipal Airport (CNZ3), Chatham ON, Canada Contest Director: Dagmar Kress Region: Mid-America See The 4CE in action Contact Information: Primary Phone: 303-887-4473 Website: http://aerobaticscanadachapter3.blogspot.com E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.iac12.org Oshkosh 2013 TWO Night Air Shows - Saturday, August 24 - Sunday, August 25, 2013 Wednesday and Saturday Kathy Jaffe Challenge Power: Primary through Unlimited Presented by Rockwell Collins Friday, August 9 - Sunday, August 11, 2013 Location: Wittman Regional Airport (OSH), Oshkosh, WI Practice/Registration: Thursday, August 8 - Friday, August 9 Region: Mid-America Power: Primary through Unlimited Contest Director: Audra Hoy Rock out with Gary Sinise Location: South Jersey Regional Airport (VAY), Mt. Laurel, NJ Contact Information: Primary Phone: 920-203-9000 Region: Northeast E-Mail: [email protected] & The Lt. Dan Band Contest Director: Mark Mattioli Presented by Disabled American Veterans Contact Information: Primary Phone: 609-634-0327 Happiness is Delano E-Mail: [email protected] Saturday, August 31 - Sunday, September 1, 2013 Website: www.iac52.org Practice/Registration: Friday, August 30 Reignite your passion Power: Primary through Unlimited Location: Delano Municipal Airport (DLO), Delano, CA Region: Southwest All in one week Contest Director: Stephen De La Cruz Contact Information: Alternate Phone: 760-963-6426 Advance ticketing made possible by E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.iacchapter26.org Copyright © 2013 EAA continued on page 30 28 Sport Aerobatics May 2013 *Save $2 on every daily adult ticket and $5 on every weekly adult ticket when you purchase before June 15, 2013. BUY NOW & SAVE!

July 29-August 4 | AirVenture.org/tickets

Tora! Tora! Tora! returns Catch CAF’s ‘Ghost Squadron’ B-29 Superfortress FIFI and B-24 Liberator Diamond Lil See The 4CE in action TWO Night Air Shows - Wednesday and Saturday Presented by Rockwell Collins Rock out with Gary Sinise & The Lt. Dan Band Presented by Disabled American Veterans Reignite your passion All in one week

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*Save $2 on every daily adult ticket and $5 on every weekly adult ticket when you purchase before June 15, 2013. CONTEST CALENDAR

Hammer Fest 2013 US National Aerobatic Championship Saturday, August 31 - Sunday, September 1, 2013 Sunday, September 22 - Friday, September 27, 2013 Practice/Registration: Friday, August 30 Practice/Registration: Saturday, September 21 Rain/Weather: Monday, September 2 Rain/Weather: Saturday, September 28 Power: Primary through Unlimited Glider Categories: Sportsman through Unlimited Location: Llano Municipal Airport (AQO), Llano, Texas Power: Primary through Unlimited Region: South Central Location: North Texas Regional Airport (KGYI), Sherman, TX Contest Director: Mike Carver Region: Mid-America Contact Information: Primary Phone: 360-888-7604 Contest Director: John Smutny E-Mail: [email protected] Contact Information: Primary Phone: 206-399-7097 Website: iac107.org E-Mail: [email protected] Website: http://nationals.iac.org/ Ace’s High Aerobatic Contest Saturday, September 7 - Sunday, September 8, 2013 27th FAI World Aerobatic Championships Practice/Registration: Friday, September 6 Wednesday, October 9 - Sunday, October 20, 2013 Power: Primary through Unlimited Practice/Registration: Tuesday, October 1 - Tuesday, October 8 Location: Newton City Airport (EWK), Newton, Kansas Power Categories: Unlimited Region: South Central Location: North Texas Regional (GYI), Sherman, TX Contest Director: Ross Schoneboom Region: South Central Contact Information: Primary Phone: 316-648-5057 Contest Director: Chris Rudd E-Mail: [email protected] Contact Information: Primary Phone: 850-766-3756 Website: www.iac119.webs.com/ E-Mail: [email protected] Website: wac2013.com East Coast Aerobatic Contest Saturday, September 7 - Sunday, September 8, 2013 Sebring Aerobatic Championships Practice/Registration: Friday, September 6 Friday, November 1 - Saturday, November 2, 2013 Power: Primary through Unlimited Practice/Registration: Saturday, October 26 - Thursday, October 31 Location: Warrenton-Fauquier Airport (HWY), Midland, VA Power: Primary through Unlimited Region: Northeast Location: Sebring regional (SEF), Sebring,FL. Contest Director: Scott Francis Region: Southeast Contact Information: Primary Phone: 703-618-4132 Contest Director: mike mays E-Mail: [email protected] Contact Information: Primary Phone: 561-313-8503 E-Mail: [email protected] NorAm Team Championship Website: www.iac23.com Friday, September 13 - Saturday, September 14, 2013 Practice/Registration: Thursday, September 12 Tequila Cup Rain/Weather: Sunday, September 15 Friday, November 8 - Saturday, November 9, 2013 Power: Primary through Unlimited Practice/Registration: Thursday, November 7 Location: Ephrata Municipal Airport (EPH), Ephrata, WA Glider Categories: Sportsman through Unlimited Region: Northwest Power: Primary through Unlimited Contest Director: Jerry Riedinger and Emma Stewart Location: Marana Northwest Regional Airport (AVQ), Marana, AZ Contact Information: Primary Phone: 425-985-9469 Region: Southwest E-Mail: [email protected] Contest Director: Jim Ward Website: http://www.iac67.org/ Contact Information: Primary Phone: 603-860-4456 E-Mail: [email protected] Rocky Mountain “Oyster” Invitational Website: www.tequilacup.org Saturday, September 14 - Sunday, September 15, 2013 Practice/Registration: Friday, September 13 Gliders Categories: Sportsman Intermediate Power: Primary through Unlimited Location: Lamar Municipal Airport (KLAA), Lamar, Colorado Region: South Central Contest Director: Jamie S. treat Contact Information: Primary Phone: 303-304-7937 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.iac5.org

30 Sport Aerobatics May 2012 CLASSIFIEDS FLYMART

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www.iac.org 31 MEET A MEMBER BY GARY DEBAUN, IAC #4145

Peggy Jordan Riedinger

IAC 433547 GD: So Peggy, I see you are a big Seahawks fan, eh? GD: What is the Nickname: Pegster Let’s forget football for the moment and talk about most difficult figure Occupation: Accountant aerobatics. Give us a little intro on how you found your to judge? Chapter Affiliation: 67 and 77 way into our sport. PJR: Loops are Age: Old enough PJR: I was dating a pilot (who is now my husband). He tough, but I think the (over 21—that’s all that matters!) wanted to fly aerobatics, and I wanted to spend time with figure eights in Family E-mail: [email protected] him, so I started going to contests with him. 7.8 are the toughest. Not only do you have GD: What was your first contest and when? to consider the size and altitude of the loops, there are dif- PJR: I know it was in 2006, but I can’t remember ferent grading criteria on the entry and exit lines depending whether it was the Apple Cup in Ephrata, Washington, or on whether there are multiple rolls on the 45-degree lines. the Beaver State Regional in Pendleton, Oregon. GD: Do you have any specific goals in GD: What motivated you to become a national judge? the aerobatic world? PJR: I became a regional judge after seeing the vol- PJR: You’ve already mentioned that I’d like to teach unteer coordinators struggle to fill out the judging judges school. I’d also be thrilled to one day be one of the line. A few years later, some contest directors in the chief judges at Nationals. Northwest requested that I become a national judge to provide additional chief judges at our Washington and GD: Who do you admire most in our sport and why? Oregon contests. PJR: The spouses and significant others who give up their vacation days to come to a contest and fill those GD: You have indicated that you would like to teach a much-needed volunteer roles to support their pilots. With- judges school, but you do have a few reservations about out those nonflying volunteers, it would be a real challenge that. Can you tell us why? to staff a contest. PJR: Some acro pilots believe that to be a good judge, you have to be an acro pilot. I’m concerned that because GD: What other interests do you have I’m not a pilot, I might not be seen as credible. As a non- outside of aerobatics? pilot, I have a different perspective on judging. I’m not PJR: Seahawks! I’m also an avid knitter. Anyone who has influenced by how a particular plane flies a particular fig- seen me away from the judges line at a contest can prob- ure; I judge solely on what the figure looks like, according ably tell you that. I stopped working full-time in June (just to the rules. in time for contest season!) and am looking forward to getting back to doing some other crafts like stained glass, GD: You have been on the judges line at the Nationals; quilting, and making jewelry. Oh yeah—and most impor- from your perspective is there anything we can do bet- tant—I’m going to learn to fly straight and level! ter out there? PJR: My first Nationals in 2012 was very well-run. It GD: Last question. If you could change anything in the was awesome to see that many pilots fly in such a short IAC, what would it be and why? time. Our judging line in Ephrata has spoiled me by having PJR: I would like to see more spouses and significant well-defined markers so the judges know they are lined up others become judges—or at least attend judges school— with the center line of the box. I missed that at Nationals. to become more familiar with the sport. I suspect that we would have more pilots flying if their spouses could see how important safety is in our sport. IAC

32 Sport Aerobatics May 2013