In the Loop

SEPTEMBER 2011 | VOLUME 2 | NUMBER 9

Your 2011 Nationals Contest Director
The 2011 National Aerobatic Championships will be held in Sherman/Denison, Texas, beginning September 25. Every year, the contest director (CD) of Nationals is tasked with keeping the contest moving along smoothly through a multitude of challenging situations. This year, Vicky Benzing will be at the helm as CD, and I thought we should introduce her to the International Aerobatic Club.
Read more

The Upper Canada Aerobatic Contest
The Upper Canada Open was held last month in Hanover, Ontario. Contest director Larry Ernewein did a masterful job of organizing this first-time aerobatic event. Three competition flights were completed for all pilots including fourteen Canadian airplanes with mostly cooperative weather. View the gallery

FEATURED AIR SHOW

This is an incredible video of 17-year-old Sammy Mason flying his first air show in a stock Stearman. Here's the description of the video from his YouTube channel: "…Sammy Mason's aerobatic performance in his family's beautiful Stearman Model 75 aircraft at the Wings Over Camarillo Air Show on the 20th of August 2011. Sammy has [been flying] since he was 14, first in gilders, then in powered aircraft at age 16. He is a third-generation pilot." Watch the video

FLIGHT INSTRUCTION

Reinaldo Beyer has an article in the September issue of Sport Aerobatics titled Invisible Inverted, where he discusses how the expectations of onlookers can adversely affect what they see during their observations. Obviously, the article is geared toward aerobatic judging, but he gave a link to an amazing video that perfectly demonstrates what he describes. Watch the video

AUDIO/VIDEO

Take the Manual With You?

Here's a video made by Eric Boyd while flying in his Pitts. He's a fourth-generation biplane pilot. Eric legally soloed in a Maule at 14 in Canada and soloed in a Pitts at 16. He flies formation aerobatics with his father and grandfather, both of whom hold International Council of Air Shows cards. His great grandfather flew in World War I, and his great granduncle tangled with Richthofen, the Red Baron. Obviously, this video was made tongue in cheek. Don't try this at home! Watch the video

EVENTS CALENDAR

U. S. National Aerobatic Championships (South Central)
Sunday, September 25 - Friday, September 30, 2011
North Texas Regional Airport (KGYI): Sherman, Texas
Director: Vicky Benzing
Phone: 408-867-5434
E-mail | Website

Ohio Fall Frolic (Mid-America)
Saturday, October 1 - Sunday, October 2, 2011
Bellefontaine Regional Airport (EDJ): Bellefontaine, Ohio
Director: Lorrie Penner
Phone: 513-284-5076
E-mail | Website

Mason Dixon Clash (Northeast)
Thursday, October 6 - Sunday, October 9, 2011
Farmville (FVX): Farmville, Virginia
Director: Pat Hayes
Phone: 919 605 4280
E-mail | Website

ROCKY MOUNTAIN INVITATIONAL (RMI) (South Central)
Saturday, October 8 - Sunday, October 9, 2011
Lamar Municipal (KLAA): Lamar, Colorado
Director: Jamie S. Treat
Phone: 303-304-7937
Alternate Phone: 303-648-0130
E-mail | Website

Keene Fall Classic Grassroots Contest (Northeast)
Saturday, October 8 - Saturday, October 8, 2011
Dillant-Hopkins Airport (EEN): Keene, New Hampshire
Director: Farrell Woods
Phone: 603-886-8634
E-mail | Website

Borrego Akrofest (Southwest)
Thursday, October 13 - Sunday, October 16, 2011
Borrego Valley Airport (L08): Borrego Springs, California
Director: Yolandi Jooste
Phone: 7149317567
E-mail | Website

Ben Glattstein International Adventure Classic (Southeast)
Friday, October 21 - Saturday, October 22, 2011
Keystone Heights Airpark (42J): Keystone Heights, Florida
Director: Ryan Waller
Phone: 239-249-1479
E-mail | Website

See the full listing of IAC events for the upcoming season here.

MYSTERY PHOTO

What airplane does this vertical stabilizer belong to?

Click for a larger view

EDITOR'S NOTE

By Reggie Paulk, Editor - In the Loop

It's September, and that means the National Aerobatic Championships are upon us. It's hard to believe summer has already blown by and we're rapidly approaching fall.

I'll be attending Nationals and will bring news of the results of the competition to you. During the time of this writing, Jeff Boerboon will be defending his title as National Champion in the Unlimited Category at the National Aerobatic Championships after putting his bid in the World Aerobatic Championships in Italy. Until next month, enjoy the last vestiges of summer and fly safely!

FROM THE EAA AEROBATICS COMMUNITY

WEBINARS

Avoiding the Base-to-Final Turn Accident
Gold Seal Instructor Gordon Penner will give simple and clear explanations of the elements leading up to a base-to-final stall/spin accident, how to recognize and stop these elements, and the true nature of stalls and spins that most pilots have not been taught.

Wednesday October 5, at 8 p.m.: All About Cylinders with Mike Busch
Tuesday, October 20: Stall/Spin Awareness: How to Avoid the Base-to-Final Turn Accident with Gordon Penner
Thursday, October 27: The Super 18 by Dakota Cub with Amy Gesch

All webinars begin at 7 p.m. CDT unless otherwise noted. To find out more about upcoming EAA Webinars and to register, visit the webinars page.

EAA gratefully acknowledges the support of Aircraft Spruce and Specialty Co. for their generous sponsorship of our webinar programs.

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