Sean D. Tucker 2016 Ford F-150: the Future of Tough®

January 2016

2015 Hall of Fame Inductee SEAN D. TUCKER 2016 FORD F-150: THE FUTURE OF TOUGH®

The 2016 F-150 is the toughest, smartest and most capable F-150 ever and it’s now the only full-size, light-duty truck to earn the government’s highest 5-star crash rating1. This F-150 is the ﬁrst and only truck in its class2 with a body and bed made from high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloys, eliminating up to 700 pounds of weight. This means greater acceleration and pulling power than ever before. Combined with the high-strength steel frame, the F-150 is more than a star…it’s 5 stars. The F-150 power of choice offers four engines, including the 2.7L EcoBoost® with best in class fuel economy3, plus an impressive 8,500 lbs. of maximum towing and 2,210 lbs. of maximum payload, when properly equipped. Ford F-Series – the best-selling truck, 38 years running! 1 Government 5-Star Safety Ratings are part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov). 2 Class is Full-Size Pickups under 8,500 lbs. GVWR based on Ford segmentation. 3 19 city/26 hwy/22 combined mpg EPA-estimated fuel economy rating. The Privilege of Partnership EAA members are eligible for special pricing on Ford Motor Company vehicles through Ford’s Partner Recognition Program. To learn more about this exclusive opportunity for EAA members to save on a new Ford vehicle, please visit www.eaa.org/ford.

2016-Jan_Ford_F150_EAA_Divis_Ad-Final.indd 1 11/10/15 2:10 PM OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB Vol. 45 No.1 January 2016 A PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB

CONTENTSOFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB

I just did not want to change a formula that had been working eﬃciently and safely for my wife and me, and it became obvious that a second plane would be needed. –Hans Miesler

FEATURES

8 Passion, Reverence and the IAC Loop by Evan Peers and Wilhelmine Zoe Peers

18 The Curtis Pitts Memorial Trophy by Gordon Penner

22 My Journey to the Pitts by Hans Miesler

26 World Aerobatic Contest by Mike Murphy COVER Composite photo, shot and designed by Evan and Wilhelmine Zoe Peers.

DEPARTMENTS 2 / Letter From the Editor

3 / President’s Column

6 / Lines & Angles

31 / Contest Calendar

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

REGGIE PAULK COMMENTARY / EDITOR’S LOG

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB

PUBLISHER: Mike Heuer IAC MANAGER: Trish Deimer-Steineke EDITOR: ReggieOFFICIAL PaulkMAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB

CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS: Volunteers Mike Heuer Evan Peers Reggie Paulk Wilheimine Peers The quiet backbone of the IAC Hans Miesler Gordon Penner Mike MurphyOFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB Laurie Zaleski is a name als from her home in New Jersey IAC CORRESPONDENCE many of you will recognize—and just to get a very stubborn group International Aerobatic Club, P.O. Box 3086 one many of you might not— of people to smile at her camera— Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086 thanks to me. and she’s done a darned good job. Tel: 920.426.6574 • Fax: 920.426.6579 E-mail: [email protected] Te November issue of this Tere are very few people she has magazine had dozens of photos of missed, and the photos you saw in ADVERTISING the pilots of the IAC’s U.S. Nation- November are a testament to her Vice President of Business Development: Dave Chaimson [email protected] als competition, and each of those tireless dedication. For her, the job Advertising Manager: photos was taken by a volunteer starts early in the morning and Sue Anderson [email protected] who has dedicated herself to get- continues well beyond the point MAILING: Change of address, lost or damaged ting the shot—every time. where most of the pilots have left magazines, back issues. the airport and joined their pals at EAA-IAC Membership Services the hotel lounge. Tel: 800.843.3612 Fax: 920.426.6761 E-mail: [email protected] Not once in the November issue did Laurie’s name appear in the at- The International Aerobatic Club is a division of the EAA. . . .the photos you tribution for her photos, and as a way of apologizing, I’d like to point saw in November are out that Laurie isn’t just a pho- tographer—her passion resides EAA® and SPORT AVIATION®, the EAA Logo® and Aeronautica™ are a testament to her in Mays Landing, New Jersey, at registered trademarks and service marks of the Experimental Aircraft the Funny Farm Rescue Animal Association, Inc. The use of these trademarks and service marks without Sanctuary. the permission of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. is strictly tireless dedication. prohibited. Copyright © 2015 by the International Aerobatic Club, Inc. Laurie’s operation provides All rights reserved. round-the-clock care to more than

The International Aerobatic Club, Inc. is a division of EAA and of the 150 animals on 15 acres. In addi- NAA. tion to providing care, Laurie and If you’ve never shot photos that her staf help increase awareness A STATEMENT OF POLICY The International Aerobatic Club, Inc. cannot assume responsibility for the accuracy of the material have to be taken, the stress in- of animal abuse through education presented by the authors of the articles in the magazine. The pages volved may not be readily appar- to the surrounding communities. of Sport Aerobatics are offered as a clearing house of information ent. Imagine trying to get nearly You can learn more about Lau- 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 100 people to pose for you in a rie’s operation by visiting www. fit. Every effort is made to present materials of wide interest that will way that paints them in their best FunnyFarmRescue.org. Tank you, be of help to the majority. Likewise we cannot guarantee nor endorse light. Now imagine trying to get Laurie, for all you do! IAC any product offered through our advertising. We invite constructive criticism and welcome any report of inferior merchandise obtained those people to pose for you while through our advertising so that corrective measures can be taken. their minds are occupied with the Sport Aerobatics (USPS 953-560) is owned by the International task of aerobatic competition fore- Aerobatic Club, Inc., and is published monthly at EAA Aviation Center, Editorial Department, P.O. Box 3086, 3000 Poberezny Rd., Oshkosh, most in their mind—a difcult WI 54903-3086. Periodical Postage is paid at Oshkosh Post Office, task becomes a near impossibility. Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 and other post offices. Membership rate for For many years, Laurie Zaleski the International Aerobatic Club, Inc., is $45.00 per 12-month period of which $18.00 is for the subscription to Sport Aerobatics. Manuscripts has made the trip down to Nation- 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 Please submit news, comments, articles, or suggestions to: [email protected]

2 Sport Aerobatics January 2016 MIKE HEUER COMMENTARY / IAC PRESIDENT, IAC 4

Knowns, Free Knowns, IAC and CIVA

My column this month draws the Nationals in 2014, and so it Sport Aerobatics, has played an from an article I posted on the IAC was no surprise when a working important role in disseminating website on November 19 as well group was formed at the 2014 information on aerobatics to all as on Facebook, and many of you CIVA meeting in Poland to explore of our members 12 times a year. have already had a chance to read the idea and come back to CIVA On our website, we have literally it and comment to me. However, with proposals. In the weeks and thousands of pages of informa- I want to reach out to the entire months preceding the meeting in tion available to anyone, as well membership and beyond our web October 2015, the working group as member-only areas that are outlets to explain the IAC’s direc- discussed the proposals and pre- provided as a beneft of your dues. tion with regard to competition. sented them to the plenary meet- Te IAC has 34 active chapters and ing in Budapest. Te Free Known sanctions 40 competitions a year. was adopted by CIVA by unani- All of this is accomplished thanks While we did exercise mous consent with the United to a dedicated volunteer corps as States voting in favor. Tere is well as our full-time employees in the United States’ vote a very good article on the Free Oshkosh. We have a lot going on, in favor of the new Known on the CIVA news website; and we are proud of it. it can be found at www.CIVA-news. Since 1982, the IAC has had rules, our support for com/news/new-free-known-pro- a letter of agreement with the the concept at the CIVA gramme-1-explained. National Aeronautic Associa- While we did exercise the tion in Washington that gives us level has nothing to do United States’ vote in favor of contest sanctioning authority in the new rules, our support for the United States, as well as the with what we may do the concept at the CIVA level has responsibility to send teams to at IAC competitions and nothing to do with what we may world competitions and delegates do at IAC competitions and with to meetings of the FAI’s aerobatics with our own oﬃcial our own ofcial contest rules. Tis commission, CIVA. It also awarded contest rules. goes to the purposes of the two us the job of naming national organizations and the reasons for champions, which is accomplished which they were formed. each year at the U.S. National I have appreciated the discussion Te IAC is an organization that Aerobatic Championships. on the web regarding the new Free was founded to promote grass- CIVA, on the other hand, is Known fight programs CIVA will roots aerobatics. Tat is, to orga- in the business of writing rules, introduce at the World and Euro- nize local chapters and regional providing ofcials, and supervis- pean Aerobatic Championships in competitions all over the country ing world championship competi- 2016, both in power and glider, and that are available to all IAC mem- tions. I have been attending CIVA thank you to all who have provided bers if they choose to participate. meetings since 1984 as the U.S. feedback and opinions. My com- Our other programs are designed delegate, and for 26 of those years ments below are rather lengthy, but to promote safety in aerobat- I served as CIVA’s president. It bear with me as the issues are wor- ics and to recognize fying skills gave me a lot of experience and thy of further discussion. as well as those who contribute insight on how aerobatic competi- Just to provide some back- to the sport in other ways. Our tion functions at the international ground, the idea of the Free Achievement Awards program level and put me in touch with Known has been around a couple has helped recognize aerobatic of years. I can remember one of profciency for more than 44 years Please send your comments, our Unlimited team pilots dis- now, and thousands of pilots have questions, or suggestions to cussing the concept with me at qualifed. IAC’s monthly magazine, [email protected].

www.iac.org 3 people from all over the world who share our love of member comments, for this last IAC board meeting, fying and aerobatics. Americans have served on all amounted to 23 pages of very detailed and articulate of the CIVA subcommittees and have contributed a remarks for the board to study prior to the meeting. great deal to the advancement of aerobatic competi- While a relatively small number of members sent us tion. Te foundation of the judging criteria found in e-mails, those who wrote did an excellent job of pro- CIVA rules today was provided by Don Taylor, IAC 3, viding feedback and input to the board. when he served as the United States delegate back in Because of the short time between the CIVA meet- the 1970s. When the judging rules were overhauled ing (held on October 24-25) and the IAC board meet- in the 1990s, it was the IAC Ofcial Contest Rules that ing (held on November 4-5), there was no chance to were the basis. Since 1960, there has always been an ofer the members any time to comment and provide American presence at world championships in power. the required feedback that we encourage in the interests of openness, transparency, and being responsive to our members. Terefore, none of these changes could go forward in 2016. Each year, after the CIVA meeting is However, aside from this, there were larger issues. As some of you have stated in your own posts, held, it is the responsibility of the what is our purpose, what are our objectives, and do we need to be in lock step with what CIVA is doing? IAC Rules Committee to report its Shouldn’t we have, as our priority, the best interests of our members at all times and not the small num- recommendations on what should ber who participate in world competition? Tese are good questions. be adopted from the latest round of Te fact that we want our team pilots to be well- prepared for their entry into world competition has changes at the world level. been a given for a long time. Te argument has been made that these pilots should fy the same sequences to the same set of rules when they are fying here Tis sets the stage for the next part of this dis- in the United States as they will at the world level. cussion. As a matter of policy, set by your board of However, we also should note that these are the best directors, there has been considerable synchroniza- pilots America can ofer, they are astonishingly tal- tion of CIVA rules with IAC rules since 1982. Tings ented, skilled, and experienced, and they will train to like the size of the aerobatic box (1,000-meter cube), whatever may be required under the guidance of the altitude limits, Unknown fgures, and the use of the best coaches they can fnd. Aresti Aerobatic Catalogue are areas of alignment. Our We also noted, in our research, that many team rules deviate considerably when it comes to contest pilots do not avail themselves of the opportunity to administration, weather requirements, and other fy local IAC contests. In Advanced, many more team technical details. Tese rules are designed to make pilots do so—but in Unlimited, some pilots do not local contests possible and easier to organize and run. fy regional competitions at all. So the argument does Without going into much detail, it can generally be not hold up. Tere is no right or wrong here, as each said that an IAC contest is a much diferent animal team pilot has limited time and resources, and may than an FAI aerobatic championship, as our rules are prefer to spend that time and money on concentrated clearly made for smaller, regional events as well as training. Some of our best pilots in the past, like Leo our Nationals. Loudenslager, seven-time national champion and Each year, after the CIVA meeting is held, it is the 1980 world champion, never few a local IAC contest. responsibility of the IAC Rules Committee to report Each pilot must decide what is best for him or her. its recommendations on what should be adopted We have a lot of pilots out there who have no as- from the latest round of changes at the world level. pirations to fy in world championships and only de- Many of these changes are routine and small. How- sire to enjoy this wonderful sport within their own ever, this year was a diferent story as CIVA adopted personal constraints. Our organization of nearly a huge change to the format of world competitions 4,000 members has about 450 competition pilots, that would require a lot of work to adopt in our rules. and so there are a lot of people out there, including Aside from the technical aspects of implementing those who volunteer at these events, who deserve these changes in IAC rules, there was the issue of our full attention. member comment. We publish the proposed rules Terefore, the IAC board of directors, when it met changes every year so members can see what we are in Oshkosh on November 4-5, decided not to adopt considering and they can ofer their comments. Tose the new CIVA fight programs in 2016 and took the

4 Sport Aerobatics January 2016 further step of providing direction to the IAC Rules activities, we do not have any professional competi- Committee to not adopt any such rules indefnitely. tion pilots here. Sponsorships are not as easy to ac- Te IAC will stick with its well-proven, traditional quire here in the United States either—for teams or fight programs well into the future. Of course, the individual pilots. door is never shut on any proposals that might im- While I have talked mostly about the Free Known, prove competition, increase participation, make our there was also the issue of eliminating the Free contests more fun and enjoyable, as well and intro- Program and the introduction of additional Free duce new people to this wonderful sport. It is our pol- Unknowns. Free Programs have been around for icy that following CIVA with this latest set of changes decades, and we saw no reason to delete them. Free would not do so. Unknowns are generally not workable at local, week- Tus, we fnd ourselves at a crossroads. Te IAC end contests with limited time and personnel, though and the United States will now go its own way. We we will continue to use them at the Nationals and for will develop our own Known sequences from here team selection. on out—for all categories—and I also expect some I am excited about the possibilities. In the past “dialing down” of the difculty level of some of our year or so, we have been trying hard to build a “new categories. I have already received wonderful feed- IAC.” We are growing again, and we are putting an back from Pitts pilots who really like the new Ad- enormous efort into improving our services to you, vanced and Unlimited Knowns. It is our policy that the member. Te IAC will go its own way, as we be- those legacy airplanes—indeed, the ones that built lieve it necessary to survive and grow. We have an our sport—not be chased away from competition by excellent leadership team in place, dedicated to our ever-increasing difculty. Tat is a recipe for organi- original purposes and objectives, and we will do our zational suicide. best to provide you the very best IAC we can. Tat said, I think the new CIVA fight programs Remember, our theme for EAA AirVenture this will work well at world championships. Tose com- year is “Aerobatics –Grass Roots to the Top of the petitions are fown by many pilots who are, for all World.” Tat theme will extend to our magazine here intents and purposes, professionals. While some of in the months ahead and the direction the IAC takes our pilots fy air shows to support their competition as we build and upgrade our organization. IAC

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www.iac.org 5 LINES & ANGLES

BY MIKE HEUER

2015 Third Quarter Achievement Awards Posted by Lorrie Penner, IAC Awards Chair

Congratulations to the following 3rd Quarter individuals who have applied for and 1198 Dave Watson ...... Primary Smooth received Achievement Awards from 1199 Don Hendrickson ...... Primary Smooth (free patch)-with CFI flying in a non-contest environment 1200 Wayne Roberts ...... Primary Smooth (Smooth Achievement), or at a 723 Dave Watson ...... Primary Stars contest (Stars Achievement) in the 724 Jonathan Apfelbaun . . . . . Primary Stars third quarter of 2015. 725 Barrett Hines ...... Primary Stars As a reminder, First time Primary 726 Ron Smith ...... Primary Stars or Sportsman Stars or Smooth 727 Malcolm Pond ...... Primary Stars Award Applicant will receive their 728 Wayne Roberts ...... Primary Stars frst award patch for free. Applicants 912 Dave Watson ...... Sportsman Smooth for Glider or Power Primary or 913 Mignon Gery ...... Sportsman Smooth – with CFI Sportsman Achievement Awards 914 Dennis Parks ...... Sportsman Smooth should fll out an application and 915 Wayne Robertson ...... Sportsman Smooth only send payment for additional 1535 John Shavinsky ...... Sportsman Stars (free patch) patches, pins or decals. Te 1536 Barrett Hines ...... Sportsman Stars frst patch will be shipped at no 1537 Ron Smith ...... Sportsman Stars charge. Applications may be found 1538 Wayne Roberts ...... Sportsman Stars at: https://www.iac.org/legacy/ 508 Dave Watson ...... Intermediate Smooth achievement-awards-applications 509 Wayne Roberts ...... Intermediate Smooth (NOTE: The first number 734 Barrett Hines ...... Intermediate Stars depicted before the name indicates 735 Sean E. Van Hatten ...... Intermediate Stars the number of people who’ve 736 Wayne Roberts ...... Intermediate Stars achieved that particular award.) 284 Dave Watson ...... Advanced Smooth 336 Michael Lents ...... Advanced Stars 337 A.J. Wilder ...... Advanced Stars 338 Wayne Roberts ...... Advanced Stars 169 Dave Watson ...... ALL FIVE 38 Dave Watson ...... ALL TEN

All award recipients since 1970 may be found on the following Achievement Award webpages: Power: https://www.iac.org/legacy/power-achievement-awards-home Glider: https://www.iac.org/legacy/glider-achievement-awards-home

6 Sport Aerobatics January 2016

Passion, Reverence, and the IAC Loop

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY EVAN PEERS AND WILHELMINE ZOE PEERS

8 Sport Aerobatics January 2016 Sean D. Tucker. Tis name alone is “I tell every- synonymous with passion, with showman- body, if you’re ship, with respect. He has become one of the going to play most experienced aviators in the industry t h i s ga me on and the most generous of mentors to fedg- this level in this lings in one of the most dangerous sports: arena, if you’re Sean D. Tucker low-level aerobatics. going to thrill and He is a showman. A mentor. A motivational share what we love, the magic of fight, be an speaker. A spokesperson for many organiza- IAC member first. I don’t care what category tions and an evangelist when it comes to avia- you fly. Get to 75 percent or better, because tion safety. He is chairman of EAA’s Young champions . . . fly with passion, they fly with Eagles program, a role he takes on with the discipline, they fly with commitment. And highest level of commitment to give kids an most importantly, we as IAC members fy with opportunity to be exposed to the magic of reverence. That’s what makes it so magnifi- fight, to be inspired, to understand the chal- cently beautiful. And that’s why the FAA allows lenges, and to train to fy safely. Te many or- us to dance in the sky.” ganizations Sean is involved in are proud to have his support. His involvement with avia- The 2015 Aerobatics Hall of Fame tors of all ages and all skills is widespread, and is well recognized, yet he remains grounded. The International Aerobatic Club Hall He has won the most prestigious awards, yet of Fame recognizes those men and he remains humble. He has earned all of them women who have made outstanding by respecting the privilege of fight. contributions to aerobatic flying. Aerobatics is a unique blend of pilot Origins and the Mentorship of the IAC and machine. Inductees of the Hall of Sean began his career in the early 1970s Fame have made a significant impact to with “a lot of action and not a lot of skill or aerobatic flying. talent,” he says. The Aerobatic Hall of Fame inductee He flew his first air show in 1976. Having for 2015 is Sean D. Tucker. crashed his airplane in 1979, he says, “I lost “I am very humbled and honored my dream. Ten I had this opportunity to get because this is my family,” starts Sean my dream back. In 1986 I got a Pitts, I joined during his acceptance speech. “I’m so the IAC, and I did it right.” lucky to fly in front of about 6 million He began the journey anew, a journey that people a year, and to share something he recognizes he is still on. very visceral in the human spirit, and Te training and the mentorship he encoun- that is called the joy of flight.” tered, the camaraderie, the community, and “The IAC took me under their the safe environment that members of the IAC wing, and they showed me how to provided to him he calls all-important. He re- be a champion. They beat it into my flects on the friends he made in the IAC who head about the reverence and the mentored him. His heroes were IAC members. opportunity we have for aviation, and “Tey gave me feedback and taught me how what is so powerful about it.” to fy as an aerobatic pilot. Tey are the reason “Everything that is righteous about I’m successful today in this endeavor called air America is what we believe in, and show fying,” he says. we are a movement. I’m honored to Without that help, without that guidance, be here, and so proud to receive this he recognizes that he may not be here today. award tonight.”

www.iac.org 9 An aerial ballet by father and son. Eric Tucker ﬂies Steve Wolf’s custom Pitts, with Sean slipping through with the Oracle Challenger III.

Today, after 25,000 hours of “It is not about front flipping, are just amazed at what these air- fight time, he is still learning, still back flipping, looping, or spin- planes can do. pushing the envelope, always ex- ning,” he says. “This art form is panding his boundaries as a per- about being in the sky, moving in The Makings of a Legend former and as a pilot. the third dimension, making de- Sean grew up in Southern Cali- Although getting older, his devo- signs, and creating joy.” fornia as one of seven children. tion to the art form is even greater With each performance he can They were not really an aviation than ever. see the joy he creates in those who family, but his father was an avia-

10 Sport Aerobatics January 2016 changed. “First of all I knew there was a God, and second I knew I wanted to fy airplanes.” His beginnings were challenging. By age 17, Sean was in the air. Using money he received from his parents one Christmas, he started taking fying lessons. “It took me two years to solo, because there wasn’t enough money. Then it took me another two years and 55 hours to get my private license.” It turns out that this now-accomplished aviator was scared to death, often panicking at the controls. “I should have flunked my private pilot’s check flight because I think I closed my eyes when I did power-off stalls. I was so fearful and so afraid. So here I was, a cer- tified pilot, who kinda lucked out and got through.” He got by, but he knows he was not a safe pilot. “Because I was not a confident pilot,” he begins, “I was terrifed of stalls, of losing control.” Looking back today, he under- stands that panic turns everything into a self-fulflling prophecy. Bad things will happen because fear is such a huge, all-encompassing, powerful emotion. He knew that to overcome that fear he needed to learn more. “In 1974 I took an aerobatic course from EAA member Amelia Reid, after just 55 hours of fying.” That course was only 10 hours, but it changed his life. “I was flying in a Citabria. An ECA, beat up, junk. I remember the first time we rolled that airplane and all the dirt fell from the floor and onto me. I recovered the roll, and I went, wow—airplanes can really do that? I want to do it again! tion attorney. He watched his fa- “I got to fy with him once when Amelia taught me how to do it. ther graduate from college and from I was 14 years old. I remember he And from there I fell in love with law school, and then learn to fy as a was taking an instrument fight in aerobatic fight.” route to understand the feld while the morning, going toward Bakers- representing airline companies. field, California, and it was dark Young Eagles, In his early teens, he experi- and foggy. We climbed through the So Every Kid Can Fly enced one of his life’s defning mo- clouds and burst into the sunrise.” Young Eagles is the greatest avi- ments with his dad. In that moment his perspective ation movement to inspire youth. competed in the Intermediate category—because I thought I was too good to fy Sportsman. I was fying an S-1C.” First he was disqualifed for mechanical faults—his S-1C was not up to par. Then they fixed his airplane, tested all the ailerons, and gave the plane a new paint job. Te year was 1984, and Sean scored 14th—last place—because he was “too cool” to fy Sportsman, which would have actually provided him with the necessary basics. He ad- mits his ego was too big. He was working with Wayne Sean’s passion for imparting the magic of ﬂight has made Handley as a crop duster fying heli- him a natural as chairman of the EAA Young Eagles. He copters. By 1986, Sean decided to fy in the Advanced category. He vowed also has founded his own non-proﬁt organization, “Every that he would be a national cham- Kid Can Fly.” pion. Wayne Handley was already an Unlimited champion—a super- star. Sean set his vision on earn- ing the national champion award in 1988. But this time he went about it seriously committed. His commitment was enforced by his belief that if he received that award, that trophy, he would gain legitimacy as an air show pilot. He would have some credentials. By then he would be able to aford branching out into the air show business. He found an S-2S, for which he paid $32,000. It was a brand-new airplane. It was pure magic. The previous owner walked away from it after Mount St. Helens erupted, covering it in volcanic dust. This year, with Sean as its chair- Chuck Yeager. In fact I called Harri- “It was a wonderful flying ma- man, the program will fy its 2 mil- son, because I want him to fy the 2 chine, and it was beautiful,” Sean lionth kid, a milestone in terms of millionth kid because he was there exclaims. “And it was mine!” the nation’s awareness. More than first and deserves that honor. I’m He was serious, so he hired Allen 8,500 pilots take 60,000 kids fying very proud of this movement. EAA Geringer as his coach, flying with each year. Like many at the IAC, members are something very spe- him twice a week after work. they are volunteering their time, cial. Everybody should take a flight “I would practice seven days a their passion, their money. And lesson, so they can touch an airplane week. And I started winning in the they are not rich; they just want to and feel the sky. Tat’s why I am in- Advanced. I started winning and share something that has changed volved with the Young Eagles, so the winning. Allen was my coach all the their lives—to open the door to kids can touch it, feel it, rising above way through to the Nationals, and he another world to these kids. the Earth, look down, and see how and I came home with the trophy.” “Tey are our true heroes. I’m very everything kinda makes sense. “ Sean still few some contests af- humbled to get to be the spokesper- ter that win, though his air show son, to be the chairman, following in Credit Through Competition career also began to take off. He the footsteps of Sully Sullenberger, When asked about his first still had the crop dusting business Harrison Ford, Clif Robertson, and contest, Sean says humbly, “I as well as an aerobatic fight school

12 Sport Aerobatics January 2016

kept his flight school because, “It does good things.”

ACE Te frst air show Sean attended was at NAS Point Mugu in Cali- fornia. There were thousands of people. Live-fre ordnance was being demonstrated in those days. He marveled at all the impressive warplanes such as Phantoms and Tomcats. Ten he saw Bob Hoover perform for the frst time. He was larger than life, greater than great. Flying his P-51 Mustang, he stood up to the quality of entertainment that these high-powered military jets were doing. Tutima Academy’s Extra 300 used for aerobatic and unusual “I was inspired by those mag- nificent men and their flying ma- attitude training. This aircraft is also seen frequently at West chines. Air shows are not only a Coast IAC competitions. motivator to get into aviation, pushing your own boundaries, but supporting the bills. By gaining enabled him to make a living as an it is a metaphor for being free, and credibility with the other perform- air show pilot. Even so, he kept his having courage. Aviation inspires ers, the champions from the IAC, helicopter company, since sponsor- people. It enchants. It drives you he felt respected. ships are renewed yearly, and he to dream.” “It was a magnifcent time. I had wanted to make sure he could pro- Sean flew his first air show in enough experience, and my dream vide for his family of two children, 1976. Since then he has evolved his was coming true. Sean’s frst spon- his wife, and their home. In 2000, skill, and he has honed his partner- sorship happened in 1992, which he sold the helicopter business, but ship with his airplane. He has en-

14 Sport Aerobatics January 2016 chanted millions through his smile, to achieve his dream, and to make teen times from Sean to Sammy, his passion, his generosity of giving him successful. We have some who flew for the first time in a window to the sky—whether it great kids out there, like Sammy front of a hundred thousand avia- be with smoke swirling in trail of a Mason. He is passionate and im- tion family and friends at AirVen- little red biplane, or as a calm and proving on his already admirable ture 2015—in a red Pitts biplane. confident gentleman taking a ner- skills. Same with Kevin Coleman. Alongside the adrenaline charge, it vous reporter for the ride of her life, Tey are the ones who are going to has got to be humbling. It certainly never pushing beyond the limit. do it! Tey need to stay in the IAC, tests your nerves, strains your con- It is no doubt that air shows, and for the safety standard, mentor- centration, and proves that true especially low-level aerobatic air ship, and community, and we will passion and honest mentoring are show performances, are dangerous. help make these kids successful, keys to achievement and success. Tey leave zero margin. Tat’s why because we need the future!” Te troops that are in the IAC are today Sean is an aerobatic compe- Sean names some of the men- probably the most caring, passion- tency evaluator, an ACE. Pilots need tors he looked up to and had re- ate, empathetic, and the best men- to be certifed by an ACE before per- spect for: mentors like Bob Hoover, tors. They go beyond sharing the forming at an air show. He is firm, Charlie Hillard, Paul Poberezny, magic of flight; they want to keep considering evaluating pilots only if and Tommy Jones. They cared everyone alive. Sean believes any- they are IAC members, because he about his future and helped mold body who even wants to consider knows that the IAC has provided a him. Before Sean’s first flight at flying air shows should be man- safe and nurturing environment to Oshkosh, Charlie advised him that dated to go through the IAC be- learn their skills. he had one chance to impress dur- cause it’s a nurturing environment. ing his performance—“Stay above It is scary to go into that box. Tomorrow’s Champions 250 feet and don’t scare any- “With only four judges evaluat- “If I see a kid who really wants body.” When he landed, he got the ing, it is imperative that each pilot to fy, I’m going to nurture him. I’ll thumbs-up and was welcomed into does better than 75 percent.” make sure that I keep him alive. the family that is EAA. Sean exclaims wittingly: “I’m go- I’ll be there for him to do it right, This scene has played out ump- ing to get back into the arena and

www.iac.org 15 ple come from around the world to train for competition. My guys are safety pilots at contests; we are very pro-IAC. We take them through every level, from Sports- man, through Intermediate, Ad- vanced, and Unlimited. We show them the right way to do it.” Learning to land the Pitts is the best way to teach students how to fly an S-1S. Ken Erickson, Sean’s chief instructor, will frst teach students to land one of the Pitts. “I’ll watch Ken grab the controls at the last moment and land it safely. He has never damaged it. I Mike and Judy Heuer with Colleen and Sean D. Tucker. am nowhere near that good.” Fly Further, Follow Your Passion Sean D. Tucker, at the top of his game, still pushes the boundaries, and still flies a Pitts—now in its third iteration as 260 hp. He has two more Pittses, two Extras, and a T-6 at his fight school. “Extras are too easy!” he exclaims. “They dance so lightly in the sky. But flying a Pitts—that is developing a skill that goes to the boundaries and requires well- trained pilots.” No matter what you fly, if you have come through the ranks of the IAC, you understand the passion, Reverence to the art form of aerobatics is one of Sean’s the commitment, and the reverence primary motivating emotions. Here, he reﬂects on the of the art form of aerobatic fight. power and grace of the Extra 300 during a video shoot at his “New airplanes are fun and easy academy in King City, California. to fy. Tey do not teach a pilot how to fly on the feathered edge. Fly- WORLD’S GREATEST AVIATION CELEBRATION® make it fun. And it will be at the tion aerobatic flight training. The ing aerobatics and pushing your JULY 25-31 Intermediate level. But I guarantee school was so successful that long- boundaries is fun. Facing your you—I’ll be nervous! And that box time sponsor Tutima Watches of- fears changes you as a human be- is pretty small.” fered a partnership, renaming it the ing. And learning to fy aerobatics BUY NOW AND SAVE! Tutima Academy of Aviation Safety. is scary. Learning to technically ac- Visit EAA.org/Tickets Academy of Aviation Safety Today his school hosts pilots from complish each fgure, and doing it In 1997, with a goal to improve major airlines down to grassroots safely, an aerobatic pilot becomes safety for all levels of pilots, and pilots who want to fy safely. He un- more confident in their skill and with a mind on how he built his own derlines—a confdent pilot is a safe ability. So when there is an emer- confidence, Sean started a unique pilot. Some well-known names in gency, they are easy, they do not school—the Sean D. Tucker School aerobatics teach and consult at the panic, it is a nonevent.” of Aerobatic Flight. This unique school: Ken Erickson, Ben Freelove, Thanks to members like Sean school offers a variety of courses, Bill Stein, Yuichi Takagi, and Chel- D. Tucker, the IAC community is including stall/spin recognition sea Stein Engberg all take turns im- nurturing, launching the passion and recovery, aerobatic profciency, parting their passion and expertise. of aerobatic pilots while building low-level mentorship, and forma- “I have great instructors. Peo- skills, abilities, and confdence. IAC

16 Sport Aerobatics January 2016 WORLD’S GREATEST AVIATION CELEBRATION® JULY 25-31

BUY NOW AND SAVE! Visit EAA.org/Tickets Te Curtis Pitts Memorial Trophy Bill Bainbridge and B&C Specialty Products by Gordon Penner, Three-Time Master CFI-Aerobatic, FAA Gold Seal CFI, Past President IAC 34

ongratulations to Bill Bainbridge and B&C Spe- cialty Products on winning the IAC’s Curtis Pitts CMemorial Trophy for 2015! I am not alone in considering Bill Bainbridge and B&C a leader in the feld of components and services for experimental aircraft, and a great friend to aerobatics. Many people I know in aerobatics were pleasantly surprised when B&C won, simply because they assumed that B&C had already won in the past. Te Curtis Pitts Memorial Trophy is one of the IAC’s nonfying awards, and according to the IAC website, “Te purpose of this award is to rec- LAURIE ZALESKI ognize an outstanding contribution Mike Heuer awarding trophy to Will Bainbridge. to aerobatics through product design. General guidelines are that this person or company is one that has created a product, or products, that has made a lasting impression on the world of aerobatics.” B&C Specialty Products has been making “a lasting impression on the world of aerobatics” now for 35 years, but surprisingly this trophy has only been around since 2006. I thought it was much longer. Past winners include: 2008 - Kevin Kimball 2009 - Herb Andersen 2010 - Gerd Muehlbauer 2011 - Walter Extra 2012 - Jim Rust Nathan, Bill, and Will Bainbridge at Oshkosh. 2013 - Philipp Steinbach 18 Sport Aerobatics January 2016 off my head!) but still have high attest that statement is true. reliability. To meet all my criteria I now have an S-1 Pitts Special they all recommended B&C. I can and am putting B&C products on now say without reservation they it. Its lightweight starter is trou- were right. ble-free, and it starts the engine For me it started with the oil even though I have higher com- filter adapter I bought for my pression pistons. Tere are many 1974 150-hp Decathlon. I wanted similar testimonials on B&C’s to put an oil filter on my engine website and Facebook page that instead of just having a screen, can be investigated. but the area between the back of I love what I call the “Orange the engine and the firewall was Hockey Puck” alternator—the tight, tight, tight. B&C’s oil fil- SD-8. It mounts on the vacuum ter adapter was perfect for my pump pad on the back of my Ly- needs. Te assembled oil flter and coming engine. It weighs only 2.9 Curtiss Pitts Memorial Trophy. adapter ft, barely, into the allot- pounds, which is much lighter ted space. I have observed many than the 12-pound alternator it experimental aircraft with similar replaces. It pumps out 8 amps, Bill Bainbridge and his people space restrictions. which is what one needs to run at B&C, some of whom have been Milled out of a block of solid alu- a radio, a transponder, and to with him for more than 20 years, minum, I think the B&C oil filter charge up the battery after start. are in some pretty good company. adapter is a work of art! I found I love this thing. My hangar mate As for the establishment of this myself staring at it in wonder as I has one on his RV-8 as a standby/ award, again from the IAC web- pulled it out of the box. It allows emergency alternator. site, “This award was donated by clearance for the tachometer cable the Pitts family in the memory of and the oil filter return line, and Curtis Pitts. From the frst design has a place for the oil temp sensor. called the Little Stinker in 1944 to Every detail was accounted for. the Model 14 designed just before Later I installed the light- his death in 2005, Curtis Pitts was weight alternator that had been one of the most prolific aircraft PMA’d onto Super Cubs. B&C designers in aviation history. His walked me through the process designs, and their descendants, that won me the 337 approval of forever changed the world of the FAA inspector for the alter- aerobatics.” nator. Bill Bainbridge also helped Curtis Pitts’ example is defi- advise me on the rewiring of my nitely one to aspire to. electrical system for a higher B&C Specialty Products has level of safety and less chance of that sort of history of pushing electrical fire. The designs were for higher and higher goals. Its al- beautiful, and they were robust ternators and regulators were on enough that I have never had a the Voyager aircraft for its record- reliability complaint. breaking around-the-world fight, As if that level of detail is not and they were also on the White enough, everything you need to in- Knight mother ship that carried stall B&C’s products is included,

SpaceShipOne. B&C has now cre- and the paperwork is correct in ev- GORDON PENNER ated standby power systems that ery detail. With Bill Bainbridge, it The B&C SD-8 alternator “Orange are OEM installations on Bonanza, is not just about the device. All the Hockey Puck”, oil ﬁlter adapter, and Piper, and Mooney aircraft—not service details are lined up as well. the BC462-H lightweight alternator bad for a company that Bill started On its website B&C says, “Our on an engine accessory case. in his garage in 1980. approach is diferent: If it’s a part When I was a new pilot in the you’re going to need in a typical Sportsman category, I asked ex- installation, we try to include it— To demonstrate that Bill Bain- perienced pilots about ways to period. It’s just one way we try to bridge thinks specifically about drop weight in my aircraft (be- serve you more effectively…and making aerobatic pilots’ lives bet- sides going on a diet or cutting more completely.” I can personally ter, check out the Aerobatic Perfor-

www.iac.org 19 GORDON PENNER Greg Jones, General Manager.

lots and builders. Top air show and competition pilots show their regard for Bill Bainbridge’s products. My friend Brett Hunter, air show pilot, U.S. Unlimited Team member, and the winner of the silver in the Unlim- ited category at this year’s Na- tional Championships, has been singing Bill Bainbridge’s praises to me for years. Brett told me, “You begin looking for an item for your aircraft either based on price or performance, and then you become a B&C customer for life based on their service and product support.” AirVenture Oshkosh 2015 B&C exhibit booth schedule as posted on the On Brett’s air show airplane, B&C Specialty Facebook page. the Magnum Pitts (a modified Pitts Special S-2C), and on the MXS he flies in competition, he mance Bundle and the Aerobatic regulator/controller. has the oil flter adapter, the SD-8 Performance Bundle II. The VAC-2 is another work of alternator, and the improved volt- Te Aerobatic Performance Bun- art like the oil filter adapter. It is age regulator. dle includes: a vacuum pump pad adapter for At Oshkosh this year Kirby 1) Te lightweight starter the lightweight alternator that Chambliss, Skip Stewart, Rob Hol- 2) Te SD-8 alternator also includes a provision for bet- land, Melissa Pemberton, and Kyle 3) An overvoltage protection kit ter oil flow into the inverted oil Franklin made appearances and an- 4) Te VAC-2 adapter system. Again, B&C pays atten- swered questions at the B&C Spe- The Aerobatic Performance tion to the details. cialty Products booth in the exhibit Bundle II is the same as the one I think all of the above prod- halls. Tat’s a pretty good indicator above except it includes the 20- ucts show a strong desire to meet of Bill’s impact on aerobatics. 30 amp BC410 lightweight al- the somewhat specialized needs Shown on page 21 are the two ternator and the LR3C linear of experimental and aerobatic pi- new alternator products from

20 Sport Aerobatics January 2016 The Winner‘s Propeller! Fly the Champions‘ Choice! like Patty Wagstaff as shown here with her Extra 300S!!

Super Decathlon

Pitts Model 12 Available for almost every aerobatic aircraft, for custom built airplanes like Lancair, Velocity, Glasair or RV and for more than 100 certiﬁ ed aircraft types. Order your custom designed propeller today! MT-Propeller USA, Inc., Florida Phone: (386) 736-7762 Fax: (386) 736-7696 e-mail: [email protected] MT-Propeller Headquarters Germany Phone: +49-9429-94090 Fax.: +49-9429-8432 e-mail: [email protected] www.mt-propeller.com

Two new alternators as posted on the B&C Specialty Facebook page.

B&C. It is continuously pushing Bill has been ably assisted for forward to create components many years by General Man- that are of lighter weight and ager Greg Jones, and recently stronger construction for both Bill’s sons Nathan and Will have experimental and production air- joined the effort at B&C. To- Stay connected craft. I show this for two reasons: gether with their many longtime with IAC’s 1) to point out B&C’s contin- employees, B&C Specialty Prod- ual search for improvements in ucts will be assisting experimen- member beneﬁts, the products it puts out, as well tal and aerobatic pilots for many and the world of as the new products that fill the years to come. needs of experimental and aero- Again, congratulations! IAC aerobatics on batic pilots, and 2) to show the the web, level of detail that goes into its products. A lot of us in the ex- in our perimental world don’t have a lot e-newsletter! of money to throw around. For us this stuff has to work the first To subscribe: time out, and it has to last. www.EAA.org/newsletters

www.iac.org 21 My Journey to the Pitts

Back to the IAC by Hans Miesler

My journey to the Pitts took 40 A senior United Airlines captain action I developed just two years years. It was four decades ago, in took pity on my stressed fnancial earlier fying the Cobra attack heli- 1974, that I owned a Taylor Titch status and gave me free berth un- copter in Vietnam. for the sole purpose of fying aero- der the wing of his Stearman. From Since I am an A&P, I did most batics. I’d fy my Cessna 120 from Tracy I would launch for New Jeru- of the maintenance work myself, Livermore, California, across the salem, a little-used auxiliary naval which kept the cost of having two Altamont hills to Tracy, where I runway. And, for half an hour, we planes manageable. Soon, however, kept that little bird. It was painted would do all that was possible in a my aviation career took a turn, and Day Glo Red, with a slightly mod- noninverted aircraft, returning to I had to sell the Titch and downsize ified Continental 85-hp engine Tracy with me feeling like a fghter to the Cessna 120 since it has two pulling a 735-pound gross-weight pilot spent with exertion. Te little seats and my wife enjoyed the trav- airframe. Taylor Titch flled the need for the eling we did in that plane.

22 Sport Aerobatics January 2016 No longer did I have aerobatic capabilities, though, at times, I did push the C-120 a bit more than it was intended for. The backcountry flights into various turf and gravel strips for camping and sightseeing would have to do for now, and my aerobatic aspira- tions took a back seat. Fast-forward to 1985 when I dis- covered the Van’s RV-4 after test- flying the first one built in Idaho. It was love at first sight, and as is often said, “If she looks good, she probably fies good, too.” found one virtually under my nose landings, and my self-esteem came Good is an understatement. By here in Colorado. It was snug- back slowly. the end of that fateful day, I or- gled in the corner of a hangar for With new tires, since the old dered my frst of several kits with 10 years after its primary owner ones had a very pronounced flat which to complete my own RV-4. The flight characteristics of that plane can only be described as cutting butter with a hot knife. All three axes are extremely well-bal- anced with controls very light and positive. For all intents and purposes, she’s a Walter Mitty fghter plane, and only lacks the sound of a Merlin or round engine to complete the picture. I was on fire and completed my RV-4 in 33 months—even including the fop tube in the right tank. I was in a hurry to get her fying. Te cost of adding fuel injection, inverted system, and so on precluded me from installing that initially, passed away, and the partner did spot, and new shims, taking off but I would do so later. not have time to fly it. Compared and landing actually became fun As things worked out, my RV-4 to what I had seen, it was simply and certainly more challenging proved to be very good at every- a beauty that needed some atten- than the RV-4 ever was. Having thing, including aerobatics, forma- tion, and a deal was made. Exactly more room in my brain to go out tion flying, dogfighting, traveling 40 years earlier I purchased the and enjoy aerobatics, and not be and backcountry camping, and Titch for the same reason…to have obsessed with the landing to fol- even air show work. By that time a plane for the sole purpose of aer- low, I found that extended air work I’d had 26 years of nearly trouble- obatic fying. brought the CHTs to unacceptable free fying in all sorts of missions, With just under three hours in levels and that would be rectifed. and as the saying goes, “If it ain’t an S-2B, I proceeded to check my- Also, during the post engine broke, don’t fx it,” so the inverted self out in the spring of 2014. Wow, run-up, the left mag coil was fail- stuf was never added. not sure if 10 hours would have ing with a 350-mag drop, and was I just did not want to change a prepared me for the next few hours replaced. Te PS-5C pressure carb formula that had been working ef- and multiple landings in this Pitts had to be sent in soon after my fciently and safely for my wife and S-1S. I began to question my 4,000 initial fights, as the engine would me, and it became obvious that a hours in taildraggers, but was able falter and hiccup if and when I second plane would be needed. So to resolve some of the quirkiness wanted to go around. Not a com- in 2014, after fying out and look- by adjusting the Grove gear with fortable feeling when the fan that ing at several Pittses for sale in a slight bit of toe-out. This defi- keeps you cool tends to lag in re- Texas, Alabama, and Arkansas, I nitely made for better behavior on sponse. Oh, I could go on, but let

www.iac.org 23 to modulate power as required. Friday arrived, as had most of the Man, I’ve done competitors. The scene was lively, with an assortment of competition planes. I was happy to see that we hundreds of loops, had a good turnout of Pittses, perhaps even outnumbering the mono- but to get a perfect planes. How many, I can’t say—I was getting into my zone, fretting about how small the box was. IAC loop takes lots There was no need to fret, as I was assigned Steve Johnson, who of gas and yet became my mentor. Those who know Steve will recognize his en- trance from his Tennessee drawl more loops. and larger-than-life demeanor. He and countless other higher- it be said that after nine weeks of dreds of loops, but to get a perfect category competitors helped all downtime, a thorough annual in- IAC loop takes lots of gas and yet they could with constructive sug- spection, and repairs to include a more loops. So it went with all the gestions and critiques. I can’t say new instrument panel, Chica Chiq- maneuvers. It’s a humbling experi- enough about how welcome Mary uita is more beautiful than ever, ence and exhilarating as well. and I felt at our first contest, and and willing to dance. My wife would come out to sup- frankly, it was a pleasant change Having solved the mechanical is- port me as she has always done in from what I had seen at a couple of sues, it was time to concentrate on my aviation endeavors, and she IAC meets in the early ’90s. the Sportsman sequence for 2015. planned a nice road trip from our With excellent weather and light My previous aerobatics experience home in Colorado to Seward. We winds on Friday, everyone got in a was in conjunction with air show departed on Wednesday to get practice, and planes launched and fying, where the crowd is happy to some practice and see what a box retrieved with military precision. see an airplane full throttle, mak- looked like from the air. Tis would By that evening I felt as prepared ing noise at 2900 rpm and blow- be my first flight in a box, and I as I could for a newbie and looked ing smoke while using most of the wanted to acclimate to the lower forward to the competition fights. runway with accepted maneuvers altitude, since most of my practice Saturday promised good for the RV. had been at 8,000-9,000 feet above weather. But before I could fly, I It is very satisfying to put on mean sea level (MSL). was volunteered to be a recorder a show for the local folks with an My fight was in two legs to get a for the Intermediate and Advanced airplane that I built at a comple- feel for cross-country fuel consump- fiers, and the rapid-fre comments tion price of $23,500 in 1989, but tion. Te tailwind pushed me along by DJ Molny gave me an appreci- it lacks the precision required for at 170-185 mph for a total en route ation of the skill required to be a the IAC maneuvers judged by one’s time of 2.7 hours, while Mary’s good judge. My stenography abil- peers, and that is my next goal. drive took a bit over 10. This day ity scored a dismal 0.0 while DJ’s With that in mind, I recruited my would be two frsts: a cross-country scored a solid 10. I’ll volunteer to neighbor Jim Woolworth, who in a biplane—not any biplane but drag out the panels next year. fies a Skybolt, to attend the judges a Pitts—and the frst time in a box Soon it was time for lunch, and school presented by DJ Molny this getting ready for competition. I minimized my portion to accom- spring, and also have Jim help with With two days before the offi- modate the aerobatics my stomach coaching from the ground. cial first day of practice on Friday, would soon sense, as I was either I planned on competing at I managed to fy several times, but No. 2 or 3 to fy. Te caution to stay Seward, Nebraska, from June 26- the markers were not in place yet. well-hydrated was appreciated, 28, which gave me about three At that altitude, the Pitts climbed but one needs to weigh the hydra- months after completing the major like a homesick angel, and the small tion needs against the need that annual inspection. We identified cumulus clouds drifted into the box, soon follows, especially for us older several nearby areas far enough presenting a physical marker for the guys. Being the newbie, I went over from our airport and airways, and top of the box. It was great fun, but my plane one more time before Jim would drive out to critique my I was told that if the judge can’t see saddling up and buckling in slowly, performance. Man, I’ve done hun- the maneuver it’s a hard zero, and enjoying what would be my first

24 Sport Aerobatics January 2016 contest, two days after celebrating my 68th birthday. Te routine of strapping in gives me that last chance to switch from the RV-4 routine to the Pitts, which is much newer to me. Not to worry, however, the starter, with a friendly demeanor and an umbrella to ward of the sun, went through his checklist and finally I was ready to start. Te start routine on my O-360 Dick DeMars-pumped engine is now very consistent cold or hot, and it starts right up on the second blade. Tat 76-inch prop rocks those 17-foot wings with a reassuring rhythm as the Lycoming settles down to the normal idle rpm. It sounds and looks like one of those funny cars when they frst light up and fnd their idle. I thought about a lighter prop to decrease the vibration and tension on the hub, but find a certain romance in a prop that is one-third the length of my wingspan. It reminds me of the disparity seen on some of the old fghter planes. I taxied out and watched for my interval to join the hold area. Te air is cooler up there. Nebraska is a beautiful checkerboard of greens all lined up north/south, and the box, with white border markers, looks pretty small at 3,000 feet above ground level (AGL). Finally I was cleared in, and I few the north border inverted. A few more clicks on my seat belt, and I turned down- wind right-side-up to get one more view of the box before turning base. I dove into the box and leveled at 2,500 AGL and started my humpty just past the Y-axis on the far side of the box. Te exhilaration of fying at the lower altitude with the increase in performance nearly caused loss of focus on the half-loop before the downline, but I caught myself and got down to business. Te rest of the sequence went well, as did the second fight of the day. I was in pretty good standing, placing second by that evening. Te only fy in the ointment is there were several others who were in close hunting, and it would be difcult to hold on unless I performed as well or better on Sunday. Sunday arrived and brought the infamous Nebraska winds. I believe the weather brief indicated 30-35 knots out of the northwest. My fying order was some- place near the bottom of the list, just before the event ended, and I had plenty of time to ponder how I would handle the box. I managed to get by with just one out, AEROBATICS MAINTENANCE but my fgures sufered with my preoccupation of stay- Basic through Unlimited FACILITIES ing in, and I bumped to fourth in the fnal tally. Now Competition & Sport We specialize in I know we all come to win and take home the gold. Safety & Proficiency Fabric But in essence, the competition, and pilots I met, and Basic & Advanced Spins Tailwheel friends we made were like winning gold, and that’s an Aerobatic Aircraft Repair intangible reward of the highest caliber. Thanks to Lynn and Ed Bowes and all their volun- Pitts S-2B teers for making our re-entry into the IAC a happy Super Decathlon experience. And for other newbies, if you can get Citabria Steve Johnson as your mentor for the event, con- Owned and operated by Debbie Rihn-Harvey sider yourself fortunate. IAC

www.iac.org 25 World Aerobatic Contest By Mike Murphy Forward by Nicholas E. D'Appuzzo, EAA 8356

Reprinted from Sport Aviation, June 1965.

THE THIRD World Aerobatic tional competition. Te illustration in creditable performances at the Contest, flown at Bilbao, Spain, which graphically depicts judges’ competitions, there has been no ended in mid-September, 1964. voting records in the finals of the team efort equal to the highly or- Competing within the framework Spanish competition indicates that ganized aerobatic teams of most of the new FAI contest rules, Cap- nationalistic ties play too heavy a other serious contenders, most of tain Tomas Castano of the Spanish role in judging this contest. which are government sponsored. Royal Aero Club became the cur- Another plus factor for the host The United States was not offi- rent World Aerobatic Champion. country is the controlled practice cially represented in Czechoslova- Ladislav Bezak of Czechoslovakia time its pilots log at the chosen kia during the frst World Aerobatic placed second. Russia won first site for the competition. By the Contest in 1960. American Frank place in the team efort; Spain and time other contestants arrive upon Price did compete in this contest, Czechoslovakia tied for second. the scene, the pilots of the sponsor- but as an individual entrant with- Viewed by itself, the fact that ing country are intimately familiar out national sponsorship. With no the champion is a native of the with the competition area and have previous knowledge of the complex contest’s host country is nothing countless hours of intense on-the- rules and procedures, Frank was more than coincidence. It becomes spot practice under their belts. unable to compete successfully. more than that, however, when the American competition in the Following the Czechoslovakian record of this international contest World Aerobatic Contests has been contest, the National Aeronautic is examined in detail. hampered by lack of organization Association became interested in With no intention of detract- and finances. Although a number American representation and spon- ing from Captain Castano’s flaw- of American pilots have turned sored U.S. delegates to the rule- less performance, I must point out that the winners of each of the past world contests have been nationals of the respective host country. The first World Aerobatic Con- test was held in Czechoslovakia in 1960. Te winner? Ladislav Bezak, of the Czechoslovakian Aero Club! In 1962, the second World Aero- batic Contest took place in Hun- gary. The winner? Jossef Toth, of the Hungarian Aero Club! When the three contests are viewed as a whole, a disturbing pattern of favoritism and partiality becomes all too apparent. Nation- alistic fervor is admirable, be it on the part of an American, Spaniard or Czech, but certainly has no place in the ranks of a supposedly impartial judging committee for interna-

26 Sport Aerobatics January 2016 Mike Murphy (open jacket) poses with the United States team at Bilbao, Spain. making committee meetings in Paris. sons had time to practice in the bor- same error. Although he flew an The 1962 Hungarian contest rowed airplane and were permitted excellent contest from that point caught us unprepared and with- only one familiarization fight over on, the error removed him from f- out finances. Pilots Lindsey Par- the contest zone. nal competition. Duane Cole also sons, Rod Jocelyn and Duane Cole The American pilots, dog- missed out on the finals due to a volunteered to make up the team. tired following their long cross- directional error, personal illness The Parsons-Jocelyn associates country, inclement weather flight and the limited ability of his light had designed and built a new aer- from Germany, spent a sleepless aircraft. obatic airplane which they hoped night attempting to decipher rules From this point on, all U.S. hopes would make a good showing. Duane and design their free-maneuver se- were pinned on Lindsey Parsons, Cole planned to use his 90 hp 1936 quence routines for the frst phase who entered the finals in good po- model Taylorcraft. An accident side- of the competition. sition after more than matching lined the Parsons-Jocelyn airplane In the lottery for appearance po- the performance of the Soviet Yaks prior to departure and the pair, de- sition, Jocelyn had the misfortune and Czech Zlins with the old Great termined to compete, hastily bor- of drawing the second performance Lakes. His feld position and fram- rowed a Great Lakes from Bob of the day. While in position on the ing were outstanding throughout Nance. Te airplanes were shipped “ready” line, he observed the first the contest. On the final day of to Germany by air freight, reassem- pilot make a 360-degree inverted competition, Parsons and the other bled and flown to Budapest only turn in the wrong direction. This top nine pilots flew their selected one day prior to the competition convinced Rod that he had misin- free-maneuver sequences. His per- kick-off. Neither Jocelyn nor Par- terpreted the rules, so he made the formance was, in my opinion, the

A meeting of champions. Left to right, Capt. Tomas Castano of Spain, 1964 Champion; Ladislaw Bezak of Czechoslavakia, 1964 runner-up and 1960 Champion; and Jossef Toth of Hungary, 1962 Champion. Mike Murphy works at this judge’s table at Bilbao, Spain while Rod Jocelyn assists.

www.iac.org 27 event. Tey are some indication as well of the organizational and financial gap which we must close if the U.S. is to ever place consis- tently in the contest. The Russians, having partic- ipated in both previous contests without success, put forth all their efforts toward winning the next championship. Practice was compulsory for all aerobatic pilots and Aero Clubs held numerous contests to choose the leading flyers of the Soviet Union. Te team chosen from these contests trained for months under disciplined tutor- ship in preparation for Spain. Mike Murphy (at left) discusses the meet with other members of the The Spanish Royal Aero Club United States team in Bilbao, Spain. At the extreme right is Father F. Lang purchased six new Zlin “Akrobats,” (CPPS), close friend of Hal Krier, who served as interpreter for the team. but lost two on delivery flights. Upon receipt of the new aircraft, best of the day. Te crowd and other with the admiration of all the par- they selected five U.S.-trained participants obviously shared my ticipants. The Soviet and Czech Spanish F-86 flight instructors opinion of the outstanding perfor- teams submitted protests over for the aerobatic team and moved mance, for Parsons was the only pi- “unfair judging.” Te protests were them, with their families, to the lot to receive an all-out ovation. It not accepted and met much disfa- Bilbao location for several months was a shock when the final stand- vor with the International Jury. of intensive practice. When the pi- ings revealed Parsons in ffth place, Perhaps we left Budapest with our lots were not flying, they studied separated from the winner, Hun- “flaps down,” but our chins were the newly adopted grading system garian Jossef Toth, by a narrow held high after the excellent per- and critiqued their teammates on margin of 200 points. The judges formances our boys turned in their daily performances. had awarded Toth 6,200 points to during the final air show before The Czechoslovakian Aero Club Parsons’ 6,000. 200,000 spectators, including dig- used the same highly qualified I studied the marks given Par- nitaries from many nations. team that performed in the previ- sons by the other judges and found Te FAI conducted two Aerobatic ous world competitions. Te team that the French judge awarded him Rules Committee meetings after had the latest Zlin “Akrobat” air- over 2,200 points. Two of the “iron the Budapest contest. Te frst, uti- planes with a newly developed con- curtain” judges (one from East lizing lessons learned at Budapest, stant speed propeller control which Germany and the other from Po- was held to simplify rules, grading gave improved performance. As land) and myself were within 30 systems, and procedures. Te loca- might be suspected, they refused points of each other, giving Par- tion for the next contest was also to sell this modification to other sons between 1,800 and 1,850 determined at the first meeting. Zlin equipped aero clubs. points apiece. Te Hungarian judge Russia and Spain sought to host The Hungarians followed the gave him only 1,100 points, the the ’64 event. Spain was chosen be- same system used in choosing Soviet judge 1,200, and the Czech cause they had previously applied their ’62 team. Fifteen pilots par- judge 1,300. The rules required for the ’62 contest and lost the ticipated in a national competition that the high and low scores be “coin fip” to Hungary. Te second and the best fve got "the nod." As scrapped, which left the average FAI meeting adopted a standard it turned out, this was essentially of the middle five scores as the fi- form of aerocryptography which the same team that had performed nal tally. Tus the 1,100 and 2,200 permitted an established mathe- in Budapest. point scores were eliminated and matical value for all maneuvers. In the United States, a meet- the extremely low marks given by Te painstaking preparations for ing of interested aerobatic pilots the Soviet and Czech judges pulled the ’64 contest, made by most of was held under the umbrella of the Parsons down to fnish ffth. the participating countries, pro- National Aeronautic Association. Te U.S. delegation accepted de- vide an insight into the growing The group founded the Aerobatic feat graciously and left Hungary international significance of the Club of America and made a tenta-

28 Sport Aerobatics January 2016 tive selection of the best qualifed members to compete for a berth on the U.S. team. Following the elec- tion of club ofcers, each member present pledged $500.00 to the cause in the event of insufficient solicited donations. Two months before the world contest, a U.S. team was selected out of those pilots who had airplanes and could make the trip. The financial problem was par- Members of the United States team made friends readily Frank Price tially solved by Beverly Howard tries out the cockpit of a Yak-18P as Ludmilla Vasilova of the Russian soliciting a $3,000.00 donation team explains the aircraft. from an oil company. The Na- tional Aeronautic Association used Tree of these pilots, who had prac- selected by the pilots from among some of their available allotment ticed long and hard there at Bil- the hundreds catalogued. Pilots from MATS to transport most of bao, graded Krier’s performance as strove to choose the maneuvers the personnel and one aircraft to nearly perfect. The Spanish group with the highest coefcient values. Madrid. Pan American Airways, agreed, in amazement, that his The “free group,” in addition to through Rod Jocelyn, allowed a flight was the best aerobatic per- receiving the high coefficient val- substantial discount on aircraft air formance they had ever witnessed. ues of 80 points for framing, 40 freighted to Paris. Hal Krier solic- Captain Castano, who later became points for depth and altitude, and ited a $2,000.00 donation from his World Champion, remarked to me 40 points for rhythm as estab- associate, Bob Fergus of Columbus, that “even with all our practice, we lished for groups I and II, were also Ohio. Lindsey Parsons sold televi- can never beat him!” allotted another 40-point grade for sion rights to CBS for $10,000.00 Although the CBS television harmony and diversity. The high- but had to give the Spanish Aero rights money had been a boon in est scoring pilots (top 30 to 45 Club one-half of this amount. Af- making the trip possible, time be- percent according to the number ter minor delays and frustrations, gan to draw short as CBS camera of entries) were eligible to com- the U.S. team was soon headed east crews constantly requested inter- pete in the fnals. Tese fnals were with fngers crossed. views and camera flights which largely a repetition of the elimina- Both money and patience were consumed valuable hours for the tion group except that each fnalist paper thin when the group finally American team. So much time was could submit a new “free group” if assembled in Bilbao. Bob Nance needed by the pilots to design “free he so desired. and his Great Lakes had flown to group” maneuvers, study manuals Although our team failed to Madrid on MATS with most of the and receive team instruction that place, I take exception to the Mon- mechanics and other assorted per- all felt unduly rushed. The pilots, day morning quarterbacks who sonnel, arriving only the day before assisted by Rod Jocelyn and Bev- claim the U.S. pilots made a bad the contest. Te MATS group rented erly Howard, drew sequences, com- showing! This was not the opinion a pint-sized “you-drive- it” station puted and studied until the wee of the other judges or of the Euro- wagon and drove all day and into hours to deliver the “free group” peans with whom I associated while the night to reach Bilbao. Hal Krier routines to the contest committee in Hungary and Spain. I feel that with his Krier-Kraft and Frank Price before the prescribed deadline. the U.S. team made a good impres- with his Bucker were air freighted The contest consisted of three sion and left Spain with respect. on Pan American to Paris with the flights: Annex I, a published and American hopes were high at other mechanics. Te group arrived usually well-practiced compulsory the completion of the compulsory in the nick of time at Bilbao after group. Annex II, which consisted group when only 141 points sepa- experiencing clearance delays at of 17 maneuvers, 15 of which were rated Krier, then in eighth place, Orly Airport for the “strange” air- selected by the competing pilots in from the leader. The seven con- craft with limited radio equipment. a lottery while the two remaining testants ahead of Krier were four Due to their late arrival, each of maneuvers were inserted by the or- Spaniards, two Czechs and one the U.S. contestants was allowed ganizing club as reverse direction Russian. Te positions of the Span- just one practice fight over the con- maneuvers to permit better fram- iards unquestionably refected the test area. I watched Krier’s practice ing. Annex III, the “free” group, advantage they held through their while visiting the Spanish pilots. which consisted of 25 maneuvers controlled practice sessions over

www.iac.org 29 the championship zone. At this production, the Swiss team, op- An FAI Aerobatics Committee stage, former champion Bezak was erating without sponsored funds, meeting is scheduled on February in 24th place and current cham- ferried two modifed Bucker “Jung- 4 and 5, 1966. In addition to select- pion Toth was in 19th place. Krier manns” to Bilbao. Teir team mem- ing the location for the 1966 event busted out of serious finals com- bers, officials and aircraft spares and making the necessary rules petition because of a mix-up on arrived in a Volkswagen bus. The changes, the committee will un- his sequence drawing. His master Swiss pilots had limited practice doubtedly select a method of judg- panel sketch difered from that of because each had to pay their Aero ing. We hope that a more equitable the judges and, according to the Club a fxed cost-per-hour for prac- judging procedure will be adopted. judges’ papers, he flew half of his tice, ferry and participating time. If nationalistic fervor continues maneuvers in the wrong direction. In spite of their modest equipment to predominate over fair play, I rec- This brought a grade of zero for and finances, two Swiss pilots ommend that we confine our ac- half of his routine and ended his made it into the fnals. tivities to the United States, where chance to get into the fnals. In my opinion, the Swiss Bucker integrity prevails. IAC Krier, however, regained a good “Jungmanns” and Hal Krier’s share of prestige for the U.S. in his Krier-Kraft were the best compe- Though Mike Murphy has passed superb showing at an all-out air show tition aircraft in the meet. These away, he will still be remembered performance on the Sunday follow- planes suffered less altitude loss by many Sport Aviation readers. ing competition. His performance and were superior to the low-wing Some will remember Mike as the official starter of the major air race was unquestionably the best of the monoplane types in both negative events at the National Air Races: The day and even more amazing because and positive snap maneuvers. “Goodyear”, the “Thompson,” the he was the only one of the 43 con- I’ve often been asked what I con- “Tinnerman”, and others. Going testants who had designed and built sider the winning formula for U.S. back even further to the late '30s, his own aircraft. To top this, he and competition in the World Aerobatic Mike was the originator of three others of the U.S. delegation had Contest. I recommend organized of the most novel acts ever to ap- sacrificed thousands of dollars in sponsorship of an experienced aero- pear at the Cleveland Air Races: The potential earnings to represent his batic pilot who is familiar with all take-off and landing on top of a country in the competition. the FAI rules and knows how to car in 1936; the pontoon-equipped aircraft taking off and landing on The Russians were undoubtedly aim at the highest point values. Te the ground in 1937 and 1938; and the best equipped team. Teir four airplane he selects must easily per- the aircraft with two landing gears, Yak 18Ps, overhauled to new con- form all catalogued maneuvers in landing both right side up and up- dition, specially instrumented for right and left directions, both nega- side down in 1939. aerobatics and containing secret ra- tive and positive. His practice hab- Mike won the U.S. Aerobatic dios, were air lifted to Bilbao with its must parallel those of Olympic Championship three times and re- pilots and technical personnel in sports contestants and he must be tired the Freddy Lund Trophy. In two large turbo-prop Aeroflot An- assisted by a qualifed instructor ob- 1941, he won the International Aero- tonov AN-12 transports. These serving from a judge’s position on batic Championship and retired un- beaten in this field. transports were conspicuously the ground. Flawless, precise and He officiated at NAA-sanctioned parked in the aerobatic zone dur- rhythmatic flying will carry a con- air shows as a judge and referee ing the entire competition. Soviet testant through the eliminations over most of the U.S. since 1946. prestige sufered, however, because into the finals. Winning the finals He served as the official U.S. In- of their demanding attitude and ju- requires the same ingredients plus ternational judge at the World venile tantrums about trivia. The fair and impartial judging. Biased Championship Aerobatic Contest in Soviet judge and his party, for ex- judging continues to be the major Budapest, Hungary, in 1962 and at ample, refused billeting with the problems for competing pilots, re- Bilbao, Spain, in 1964. other judges and moved uncer- gardless of their nationality. During World War II, Mike was in charge of the glider programming emoniously into the hotel housing Captain Castano, the current and planning of the Normandy in- their team. Another incident, which World Champion, flew flawlessly vasion and was the first man to brought smiles to all but Russian throughout the latest contest. Tis land in Normandy on D-Day. Among faces, occurred when the Russian demonstrated his inherent abili- his military decorations, Mike re- team captain stormed into competi- ties as well as months of obvious ceived the Air Medal with clusters, tion headquarters and demanded preparation. However, in my opin- the Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, removal of the Coca-Colas which ion, any one of a number of the top Commendation Medal, Bronze Star, had been placed in his team’s refrig- fnalists could have won this honor and others. Mike also received civil- erator by the courteous Spaniards. if nationalistic afliations had not ian awards, among them two FAA Meritorious Awards for Safety. In contrast to the Russians’ big prevailed over true evaluation.

30 Sport Aerobatics January 2016 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.

Ben Lowell Aerial Confrontation (South Central) East Coast Open Championship (Southeast) Saturday, May 21 - Sunday, May 22, 2016 Friday, August 12 - Saturday, August 13, 2016 Practice/Registration: Friday, May 20 Practice/Registration: Wed., August 10 - Thurs., Power: Primary through Unlimited August 11 Location: Sterling Municipal Airport (tentative) (STK): Rain/Weather: Sunday, August 14 Sterling, CO Power: Primary through Unlimited Region: South Central Location: Everett-Stewart Regional Airport (UCY): Contest Director: Bob Freeman Union City, TN Phone: (303)709-6465 Region: Southeast E-Mail: [email protected] Contest Director: Mike Rinker Website: www.iac12.org Phone: (731) 796-0849 E-Mail: [email protected] Lone Star Aerobatic Championships (South Central) Website: www.iac27.org Friday, June 10 - Saturday, June 11, 2016 Practice/Registration: Thursday, June 9 Ace’s High Aerobatic Contest (South Central) Rain/Weather: Sunday, June 12 Saturday, September 10 - Sunday, September 11, 2016 Power: Primary through Unlimited Practice/Registration: Friday, September 9 Location: TBD (NA): TBD Power: Primary through Unlimited Region: South Central Location: Newton City (EWK): Newton, KS Contest Director: J. J. Humphreys Region: South Central Phone: (940) 564-6673 Contest Director: Ross Schoneboom E-Mail: [email protected] Phone: (316) 519-2079 Website: www.iac24.org Alternate Phone: (316) 648-5057 E-Mail: [email protected] Ohio Aerobatic Open (Mid-America) Friday, June 17 - Saturday, June 18, 2016 Rocky Mountain “Oyster” Invitational Aerobatic Practice/Registration: Thursday, June 16 Contest (South Central) Rain/Weather: Sunday, June 19 Saturday, October 8 - Sunday, October 9, 2016 Power: Primary through Unlimited Practice/Registration: Friday, October 7 Location: Bellefontaine Regional Airport (KEDJ): Glider Categories: Sportsman through Unlimited Bellefontaine, OH Power: Primary through Unlimited Region: Mid-America Location: Lamar (KLAA): Lamar, CO Contest Director: Samuel Weaver Region: South Central Phone: (937) 681-2680 Contest Director: Jamie S. Treat E-Mail: [email protected] Phone: (303) 304-7937 Website: http://www.iac34.eaachapter.org/ Alternate Phone: (303) 648-0130 E-Mail: [email protected] Michigan Aerobatic Open (Mid-America) Website: www.IAC5.ORG Saturday, July 9 - Sunday, July 10, 2016 Practice/Registration: Wednesday, July 8 Rain/Weather: Sunday, July 10 Power: Primary through Unlimited Location: Bay City James Clements Municipal Airport (3CM): Bay City, Michigan Region: Mid-America Contest Director: Brian Roodvoets Phone: (810) 338-7654 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: iac88.eaachapter.org

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