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A Great Day to Celebrate Aerobatics! International Aerobatics Day success
Saturday, June 24, was a fantastic day to celebrate aerobatics! With multiple events scheduled by local IAC chapters from California to Georgia, there was a lot of aerobatic fun to be had by all.
“Thanks to all who came out Saturday to DeKalb, Illinois (DKB),” said Julia Harrington, IAC Chapter 1 president. “It was a fun summer day of flying and camaraderie!”
“There was a beautiful Great Lakes here and I made a bunch of new friends. A couple neighbors from the houses nearby dropped by and it was great to see old friends, too,” said Todd Ashcraft, IAC 1 member. Read more › |
SPORT AEROBATICS – FEATURE |
A Classical Symphony The Pitts Special S-2A
By Phillip Gragg, IAC 431292
 On May 23, 2022, the 50th anniversary of the certification of one of the most influential light aircraft ever built quietly came and went with nary a mention. However, the impact on aerobatics of this indomitable and brilliant little aircraft has not faded in the intervening years.
This is the story of the S-2A, my experiences flying it, and the reflections of some very talented and accomplished aerobatic pilots who all share a similar affection for this remarkable machine. Read more › |
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT |
Flying the Competition Roll Gordon Penner, FAA Gold Seal CFI, 3-Time MCFI-Aerobatic, SAFE Bronze member
Competition aileron rolls, which are really slow rolls in technique, are one of the harder things to teach in the basic aerobatic course. You must not pitch first before initiating the roll as you would in a pure, 1g, Bob Hoover-smooth, coordinated aileron roll (or the zero g Primary roll). A slow roll is definitely not coordinated as top rudder, or sky rudder, is applied in each knife-edge portion of the roll. Read more › |
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LINES & ANGLES |
Performer Meet and Greet IAC at AirVenture There is a lot going on at the IAC Aerobatic Center during AirVenture. Join us for a meet and greet with our IAC members who are flying in the afternoon air shows.
- Monday and Tuesday: Erik Edgren is the only air show performer currently flying the “old school” C-85 powered clip wing T-Craft performing in air shows today.
- Wednesday: Patty Wagstaff, flying a 350-hp Extra 300S, Three-time U.S. National Aerobatic champion
- Wednesday: Rob Holland, 11-time US National Aerobatic champion, flying his custom MXS-RH, all carbon-fiber single-seat masterpiece.
Read more › |
IAC Officer/Director Elections Voting reminder — deadline July 25 Members may cast their votes using the secure online ballot (member login required). Voting began June 28 and closes July 25, 2023.
Positions to be filled are vice president, treasurer, and four directors. Directors are elected “at large,” not by region, and are then assigned a region after they’re elected. There are two candidates for vice president and six candidates running for four director slots. YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
Visit the Notice of Election webpage to view all of the candidate profiles. |
Meet the US Advanced Glider Team The World Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championship (WAGAC) is being held in Torun, Poland, July 20 to August 5.
For the first time in history, a team of five pilots will compete at the WAGAC. The team is working hard to ensure they are prepared to represent the United States well. Your 2023 U.S. Team members are Shad Coulson, Mallory Lynch, Joe Gerner, Jared Bachman, and Andrew Dever. Read more › |
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TECH TIPS — The Spin Recovery Series |
The Spin Series Out Spinning with Beggs Gene Beggs authored several articles for Sport Aerobatics in which he answered questions from readers about their experiences with spins.
The first letter was from a 73-year-old man who, along with a few of his friends, was a homebuilder and had built a biplane of very “small dimensions” with a light English Pobjoy engine, 80 hp with a three-to-one reduction gear. He flew the biplane to 9,000 feet AGL and attempted to execute 10 full turns. Read more › |
COMMITTEES AND PROGRAMS |
Regional Series StandingsSouthwest and Southeast lead the way. With 15 contests flown in 2023, there are 10 qualifying pilots for the Regional Series awards. A series must consist of three contests at minimum. The average of the best three contest scores flown in the region will be used.
- South Central: Craig Fitzgerald — Intermediate
- Southeast: Andro Begrow — Primary, Corey Gerulis — Intermediate, Kyle Collins and Tom Tomason — Advanced
- Southwest: Jennifer Watson — Sportsman, Brooks Mershon — Intermediate, Chris Combs and Barrett Hines — Advanced, Dave Watson — Unlimited
Read more › |
CHAPTER CHATTER |
IAC Chapter 35 Training Camp In May, Wes Liu and IAC Chapter 35 hosted the 2023 Aerobatic Camp Voltige at the Eastern Slopes Regional Airport in Fryeburg, Maine (KIZG). The pilots flew two flights a day and were given flight programs of increasing difficulty. On the final day of camp, IAC Knowns flights and the pilot’s own Free programs were flown.
The management and staff at KIZG provided outstanding support and their new heated hangar held our aircraft each night. Mother Nature generally provided clear skies but threw in some winds aloft to add to the flying challenge. All of the pilots had a great learning experience. Read more › |
U.S. NATIONALS |
Hotels, Pre-registration, and Practice Slots Have you pre-registered for the U.S. National Aerobatic Championships? How about a hotel reservation?
When you register and pay the entry fee, you can select a confirmed practice slot on the official practice day, Saturday, September 23. A first-come, first-served practice arrangement on Thursday and Friday, September 21-22, can be made with box master Gary Debaun on site.
There are three great hotels with discounts! All are offering $109/per night. Identify yourself as an IAC member.
- Courtyard by Marriott (785) 309-1300; Deadline: August 25
- Hampton Inn (785) 823-9800; Deadline: August 25
- Hilton Garden Inn (785) 309-0440; Deadline: August 15
Read more › |
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Aviat Aircraft 110 Special Sportplane The Mystery Plane is Aviat Aircraft’s 110 Special, nicknamed, “The ‘Coupe.’” The aircraft was based on the Monocoupe 110 design which was produced from 1932 through 1950. “It’s stressed to +6/-3 gs,” said Stu Horn in the May 1999 issue of Sport Aerobatics. “...it will cruise at 185 mph and features side-by-side seating which makes it ideal as an aerobatic trainer.”
Some research indicates that only the prototype of the Aviat 110 Special was produced. Read more › |
Survive the Spin John and Matt Morrissey made this video in 1999. At the time Matt was the Western Hemisphere’s Sukhoi sport aircraft distributor.
Father and son felt they needed to do something to show the “What If” situations that happen when a departure from controlled flight occurs. They made the video as an instructional presentation but emphasize that the video doesn’t take the place of actual in-person flight training. Watch Now › |
2023 IAC EVENT CALENDARS |
2023 IAC–Sanctioned Contest Listings Calling pilots and volunteers, please pre-register for an IAC-sanctioned contest today! Give the organizers a good headcount. It’s not too late or too early — take a look at the contest listings! Visit IAC.org/contests for all the details. |
- July 14, 2023 – Green Mountain Aerobatic Contest, Springfield, Vermont (KVSF)
- July 15, 2023 –High Planes Hotpoxia, Fort Morgan, Colorado (KFMM)
- July 21, 2023 – Can Am Cutbank, Cutbank, Montana (KCTB)
- August 11, 2023 – Maple Syrup Acrofest, Midland, Ontario, Canada (CYEE)
- August 12, 2023 – Yooper Looper, Marquette, Michigan (KSAW)
- August 12, 2023 – Ben Lowell at USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, CO (KAFF)
- August 18, 2023 –Corvallis Corkscrew, Corvallis, Oregon (KCVO)
- August 18, 2023 –Canadian Nationals, Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada (CJB3)
- August 18, 2023 – Kathy Jaffe Challenge, Bayville, New Jersey (KMJX)
- August 25, 2023 – Ohio Fall Frolic, Bellefontaine, Ohio (KEDJ)
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2023 Other IAC Events and Deadlines
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WEBINARS & FORUMS |
Celebrate Aerobatics!  Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly aerobatic maneuvers? Get a close-up introduction on how you can celebrate aerobatics with this archived webinar originally recorded for International Aerobatics Day.
Celebrate International Aerobatics Day: Gordon Penner, Master CFI — Aerobatic and FAA Gold Seal instructor, was the presenter on how to get started in aerobatics, flying for fun (recreational aerobatics), or unusual attitude training. Watch now › |
DESKTOP CALENDAR – July 2023 |
Three Pitts Specials S-2A  As early as the mid-1960s, Curtis Pitts began to develop the concept of a two-seat aerobatic trainer that could fly all advanced aerobatic maneuvers as a fully type-certificated aircraft..
Download today › |
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