Hi everyone. Sorry for the long time no news, but after the blast of activity and excitement that was the Nationals in November at Tocumwal, its taken some time to recover and get back into the swing of all things aerobatics!
Congratulations to all 48 pilots that competed. This is, I think, a record number of entries. It also an amazing fact that all competitors got to fly their entire program across the four days of the comp, thanks to excellent weather and an amazingly efficient judging line and scoring shack, run by the guru of competition management ….Jeremy Miller.
Also pivotal for the operations side of things was the Master of Ceremonies in the Radio Shack and number one hangar host Air Vice Marshal Lee Gordon Brown. I lost count of the number of pilots who came up to me raving about Lee’s performance as an ATC, Professional, reassuring and amusing were words included many times in these reports.
And a huge well done to our new 2016 Unlimited Australian aerobatic Champion Brad Mulcahy. Brad has been around this sport quite a few years now and is as a consistent Aresti exponent of the highest calibre. His hard work and commitment has paid off, and we wish him well for this year’s World Aerobatic Championships, being held in South Africa.
Also a hearty congrats to the Runner Up in Unlimited Grant Piper. Grant flew consistently well throughout the comp which resulted in the next best podium finish, earning a huge amount of respect from everyone, given his long term view, drive and commitment to the sport, the club and aviation in general. Grant is also competing at the WACs and will taking the hopes and wishes of all of us with him.
Also well done to our Advanced, Intermediate CIVA, Intermediate AUS, Sportsman and Graduate National Champions;
Richard Wiltshire (ADV)
Scott Yates (INT CIVA)
Lachlan Tu (INT AUS)
Natalie Korrum (SPO)
John Lewin (GRAD)
AusChamps 2017- Narromine
The National Committee has decided to hold the National Australian Aerobatic Championships so that the Presentation Dinner will always fall on the first Saturday of November, unless otherwise announced. Therefore the 2017 AusChamps will be from November 1st to the 4th, 2017. The location will be Narromine, so get your accommodation sorted NOW if you want the best motels, nearest the field.
VicChamps 2017- Tocumwal.
Only 1 week to go and we get to do it all again. Entries are light on, so the Early Bird discount has been extended to Sunday Feb 19.
Weather is forecast to be superb and the judging line will be even better. There is still stacks of accommodation available and the Murray Border Flying Club will be looking after us just as well as they did at the Nationals
Well guys, this is a wrap from me. I will be stepping down from the Presidency at the AAC AGM, being held at Tocumwal during the VicChamps next week. It’s been an absolute honour to be your President for the past two years, and very rewarding to be given the chance to help with the evolution of our great sport and endeavour.
Grant Piper is up for Round 2 as President of the AAC, where I am sure he will again make an excellent contribution to moving our club forward. The fact that Grant has taken this challenge on, knowing exactly the amount of time and effort required, is an outstanding effort, and I urge each and everyone of you to support him to the hilt. Remember if no one puts their hand out to help, then we have no Club and no competitions.
And talking of support, I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart all those committee members and others that have made a significant contribution whilst I have been president. next time you see these guys, make sure you shout them a drink with an alcohol content greater than 10%;
Jeremy Miller
Martyn Woodhouse
David Knowles
Peter Townsend
Cass Moeller
Adam Gibb
Dieter Ebeling
Jo Freeman
Lee Gordon Brown
Simon Stone
Charles Greatrex
Jesse Jury
Brad Mulcahy
Trent Stewart
