INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB, EAA WELCOME U.S. NATIONAL AEROBATIC CHAMPIONSHIPS TO OSHKOSH
Opportunities to view and learn at Wittman Regional Airport during contest week
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (September 12, 2018) — Some of the nation’s best aerobatic aircraft pilots will return to Oshkosh on September 22-28 to compete for the U.S. National Aerobatic Championships, hosted by the International Aerobatic Club at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.
The event moved to Oshkosh last year after spending most of the past 45 years at Sherman/Denison, Texas. Approximately 100 pilots will compete in five separate categories during the week, ranging from Primary to Unlimited in both powered and glider aircraft. In addition, the top finishers in the Unlimited category will earn berths on the U.S. team that will compete next year at the world championships in France.
“Oshkosh is a focal point and internationally recognized as the home of sport aviation, and we are looking forward to another successful year,” said Robert Armstrong, IAC president. “Competition aerobatics is one of the most demanding of all air sports and requires extensive practice, planning, and precision. It has often been compared to figure skating as competitors must execute maneuvers in a sequence for a panel of judges. Aerobatics is a melding of a skilled pilot with a capable and high-performance aerobatic airplane.”
Competition will begin on Saturday, September 22, in the five categories: Primary, Sportsman, Intermediate, Advanced, and Unlimited in both power and glider aerobatics. The categories are determined by the complexity of maneuvers and capabilities of the aircraft. Pilots in each category will fly at least three routines:
- Known (where all competitors fly a pre-published set of maneuvers)
- Unknown (the maneuvers to be flown are presented to the pilots prior to their flights, with no opportunity to practice the sequence of figures)
- Freestyle (individual pilots can create their own routine based on maneuvers allowed in their category)
A group of judges scores all routines, with the highest scores earning the pilot a national champion title in each category. Updated results will be maintained on IAC’s website at www.iac.org, as well as IAC’s Facebook page and Twitter account.
IAC will also host two free public one-hour “insider briefing” at the Wittman Regional Airport terminal to introduce the details of competition aerobatics to local residents. The first on Tuesday, September 25 at 2 p.m. will also allow attendees to participate as adjunct judges who will score the flying performances that afternoon. The second insider’s briefing is on Friday, September 28 at 1 p.m., just prior to the top Unlimited category’s final freestyle competition. While the national championship site and aircraft parking area are closed to the public for safety reasons, there are ample viewing opportunities at the Wittman Regional Airport terminal area adjacent to the aerobatic box.
Some previous U.S. national champions have also flown the in the annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh air shows in July. That includes Rob Holland, who this year will be attempting to win his eighth consecutive Unlimited national title, breaking the record he shares with the late Leo Loudenslager. Competition will end on Saturday, September 29, with awards presented at the closing banquet in the EAA Aviation Museum.
About the International Aerobatic Club
The International Aerobatic Club (IAC) was formed in 1970 as a division of the Experimental Aircraft Association. IAC is also affiliated with the National Aeronautic Association and is responsible for the administration, management and promotion of the sport of aerobatics in the United States under the applicable regulations of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
EAA embodies the spirit of aviation through the world’s most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA’s 210,000 members and 1,000 local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderie of sharing their passion for flying, building and restoring recreational aircraft. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or go to www.eaa.org. For continual news updates, connect with www.twitter.com/EAA.
