Blair Aerosport: BLOG: Australian Aerobatic Champs

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We just got back from the 2010 National Aerobatic Championships which were held in Parkes NSW. It was good to attend this event again, my first time at Parkes was in 2008 and I missed last years event because of a technical problem with the Rebel. The weather was near perfect but just like 2008, the weather deteriorated significantly the day after the comp which made the trip home less than fun ...

The local council and Mayor held a civic reception for us the evening before the comp started, they go to a lot of trouble to make us feel welcome.

35 pilots entered, which is pretty good for this event.

My family made the 6 hour drive to join me for the Easter holiday. It was great having them there. It helped me not get too carried away by the seriousness that usually accompanies these competitions.

Whilst I'm almost ashamed to admit this, I hadn't flown an Unkown sequence since the last comp at Temora last year, and only did my Free once before heading to Parkes and hadn't flown the Q until actually arriving in location. I had been in the aeroplane with display flying, so I was comfortable in the aircraft but not necessarily with Aresti (competition style) flying. My start to the year has been busy with a new flying job and its associated ratings and there is also the new house etc.
So excuses aside, the results ....
I won the Advanced Free, placed second in the Advanced 1st Unknown and 3rd in the 2nd Unknown for 2nd Overall. I had some pretty hefty penalties in the Unknowns, in fact, about 10% of penalties in the second Unknown for going low and having a break etc.

I learnt a lot but more importantly learned were I need to improve.
My aim for the comp was to win the Advanced Free trophy so I feel satisfied with my performance.

This event has reinvigorated my motivation for competition flying which had faded in recent times. Having said that, I've got 2 Airshows and a display at Eastern Creek Raceway over the next month - no time to rest!!