When: April 17th/18th, 2021, Briefing 9am both days
Where: Mercer Airport
Due to issues with the website, invites were sent to all previous North Island AkroFest competitors and helpers, for the first of our MercerComps series. The intent is to run a MercerComp every quarter, incorporating the North Island AkroFest in the last quarter of the year, so that the North Islanders can up the ante and take it to the Mainlanders!
Competitors:
Primary
Pierre Puchon Robin 2160 TZF
Recreational
David Wilkinson DR107 EZG
Pierre Puchon Robin 2160 TZF
Sports
John Ashman Giles G202 NUT
David Cranna Vans RV7 RVQ
David Wilkinson DR107 EZG
Intermediate
David Cranna Extra 330LX XLS
Steve Geard Yak 55 YKV
Mike Slack Zlin Z50 ZSO
Advanced
Mo Tull Giles G202 NUT
Grant Benns Giles G202 NUT
Brent Griffin Giles g202 NUT
Weather
Saturday…average in the morning but improving as the day progresses
Sunday…looks great!
Please feel free to come along and watch, even if you haven’t watched.
It’s official! We have, sadly, officially cancelled the 2021 Nationals, due to the obvious circumstances around the Level 3/2 Covid-19 situation.
Thanks for your entries, enthusiasm and support at this difficult time.
We will work through a process this week of refunding your entry fees.
We will also look at what regional weekend events can be planned before winter descends on us, using your well-practiced sequences of the 2021 Nationals.
Thanks to those who have put their hands up as volunteer helpers/judges/etc., and particularly to Mike, Mo, and Andy.
Also, a big thanks to Terry for his fantastic 2021 event tee-shirts and trophies – we will see what we can do to get the tee-shirts out to you, perhaps modified in some way (‘Covid-19 Victim’?!).
Entry Deadline: Friday29th January 2021…CLOSED! (But we will let you in, if you are really really quick)
The next deadline is the submission of your Free/Free Knowns:
Friday 5th February 2020
And here is the most up-to-date competitor list:
Return of Trophies
If you have a trophy, please PLEASE bring it back with you (suitably engraved), or get it back to the event with somebody…anybody.
For this year…
At the event, we will have a minivan for transport around the airfield, and to and from your accommodation.
There will be an LLDA refresher for those who need one.
We will have the Awards Dinner on Saturday night.
You must be wearing a hi-viz vest or jacket when on an operational area (buy or acquire one now).
We will be asking everybody to sign-in, or to use their Covid-19 Tracer App, each day so that we comply with MoH guidelines.
The 2020 NZ Aerobatic Club Nationals (happier times, pre-Covid 19)
The Thrill of Competition Aerobatics – Race-craft
For all competitors, have a read of the following article, published in Kiwi Flyer and available on our website under Articles, which talks about your prep and ‘race-craft’, which in the motorsport world can be defined as:
‘The total of a racer’s skill (craft) along dimensions including: practicing, qualifying, starts, beginning, mid-race and end-race pace, passing, wear equipment usage, and pit strategy.’
The most common mistake many pilots make is not starting their sequence with enough energy (height and/or speed), so think about what you speed and height need at your first maneuver and STICK TO IT!
Also, if you take a break at any stage (highly recommended in the lower categories), use this break to best effect – CLIMB CLIMB CLIMB and get back to a good great start point for the recommencing of your sequence.
QUESTIONS?
Call or email me for more info if needed – Grant Benns
Just 9 days to go till the entry cutoff for our 2021 Nationals.
Have you completed your entry?
Entry Deadline: Friday29th January 2021
Free/Free Known Sequence submission close: Friday 5th February 2020
Late entries might be accepted, but only at the whim of the Contest Director – bribes may be accepted in gold bullion, effective Covid-19 vaccines (not Sputnic 5), or pineapple lumps.
Remember, it is far preferable for you to enter and withdraw (with a full refund of entry fee) at a later date than to leave your entry to the last minute… the printing of sequences and scoring sheets is no small task for our volunteers.
Info on how to compose and check your Free Knowns (Intermediate, Advanced and Unlimited).
Free composition for Rec and Sports
Entry Close-off dates
Volunteers
Our events run on volunteers to carry out ground duties.
No ground ‘staff’ = no pilots flying.
As part of the entry process, competitors are asked if they are available to volunteer for ground duties. For those of you wishing to attend but not compete, we would love (and NEED) your help, as a:
For ALL attendees – competitors and non-competitors – please let me know ASAP, by email or text, if you are willing and able to help in one of these roles.
Free Known composition
For those of you flying Int/Adv/Unlimited, this is to clarify how to produce and check your 2021 Free Known (Int/Adv/Unknown) using OpenAero.
Select Library>2020>CIVA>(your category). You will then be asked if you want to open the Free(Un)known designer – I would suggest you do as it makes roughing out your sequence easier. You can always fine-tune the sequence after pushing ‘Finalize Sequence’.
Before you ‘Check sequence’, ensure you have the correct Rules and Program selected in the yellow Sequence Info area. This must be set to Rules>NZAC and Program>Free Known.
Clear as mud? If not, contact me.
Free Composition
If you are new to our comps, and/or want to have a crack at designing you own (optional) Free sequence, you will need to acquaint yourself with OpenAero, ideally using the Chrome browser.
You will find on our website a Kiwi Flyer article on OpenAero basics – look in Articles>Aero Sequencing.
Using a blank sequence, in the yellow Sequence Info box, ensure you have set Class>Power, Rules>NZAC, Category>Recreational (or Sports) and Program>Free. By doing this, you have now restricted OpenAero to only allow those figures and total difficulty (K) factor you are entitled to use.
The red Alerts box will tell what you are missing, lacking or exceeding . The aim of the game is to have the maximum allowable total K-factor (currently 140K) spread as evenly as you can across the maximum of 12 figures. Pick figures you know, have practiced and can fly consistently well.
When you have finished, selecting Sequence>Check Sequence will confirm you have done everything right.
Here is an example I whipped up, for your inspiration (use?):
Entry Deadline: Friday29th January 2021
Free/Free Known Sequence submission close: Friday 5th February 2020
Late entries might be accepted, but only at the whim of the Contest Director – bribes may be accepted in gold bullion, effective Covid-19 vaccines (not Sputnic 5), or pineapple lumps.
Remember, it is far preferable for you to enter and withdraw (with a full refund of entry fee) at a later date than to leave your entry to the last minute… the printing of sequences and scoring sheets is no small task for our volunteers.
QUESTIONS?
Call or email me for more info if needed – Grant Benns (Contest Director/Organiser) 0210629929 grantbenns2014@gmail.com
The NZ Aerobatic Club Nationals will take place from 3rd-6th March 2021 at Masterton Airport.
Nationals Entries are open NOW via electronic entry form here.
Entry Fees are unchanged from 2020:
Primary $120
Rec and Sports $180
Intermediate, Advanced and Unlimited $240
Note that you must also be a paid up member of the NZAC ($35p.a.) to enter.
Entry Deadline: Friday29th January 2021
Free/Free Known Sequence submission close: Friday 5th February 2020
Late entries might be accepted, but only at the whim of the Contest Director – bribes may be accepted in gold bullion, effective Covid-19 vaccines (not Sputnic 5), or pineapple lumps.
Remember, it is far preferable for you to enter and withdraw (with a full refund of entry fee) at a later date than to leave your entry to the last minute… the printing of sequences and scoring sheets is no small task for our volunteers.
SEQUENCES
Known sequences to be flown for our 2021 event are available on our website/Sequence and in OpenAero under Library>2021>NZAC.
Free Known figures/information for Int/Adv/Unlimited can be found on our website/Sequences and OpenAero Library>2020>CIVA. Ensure you use the 2020 (not 2021) Free Known figures for our 2020/21 summer season.
Free sequences for Rec and Sports, if you choose to design your own, must be designed on OpenAero by selecting Power / Rules>NZAC / Program>Free.
Before submitting your sequence as part of your entry process please Check Sequence in OpenAero. You can enter but then send your Fee/Free Known latter if you wish, but no latter than January 29th.
For those competing in Int/Adv/Unlimited, put some thought into your FreeUnknown figures BEFORE YOU ARRIVE!
DOCUMENTATION
Scan or photograph your required documents as part of the on-line entry process. No docs, no fly.
Wed 3rd Mar: 0800 Briefing / 0900 Official Practice / Lunch / 1300 Competition Start – Known sequences / 1800 Box closed and bar opens / Welcome BBQ at the Wairarapa Aero Club.
The 2020 South Island AkroFest is nearly upon us. All competitors should review the newly updated procedures manual available here as well as on the website on the home page for the duration of the event or under the Rules, Procedures and Forms menu.
Anyone who wants a copy of the Ashburton traffic flyer for the event can find it here.
NOTAM
GG NZZMYDAS 062102 NZCHYNYX (A2879/20 NOTAMN Q) NZZC/QWALW/IV/M /AW/000/050/4354S17148E005 A) NZAS B) 2011232300 C) 2011282359 E) INTENSIVE ACFT ACT WILL TAKE PLACE DUE AEROBATIC COMPETITION AT NZAS. AEROBATIC BOX LOCATED ON N BDRY OF AD F) SFC G) 5000FT AMSL)
For those that haven’t booked accommodation for the South Island Akro Fest (which is now at Ashburton, 26th -28th November) yet, we have managed to secure a couple of hotel discounts for you.
They are offering rooms for $105 per room per night for a maximum of 2 people.Please call (0800 330 880) or email them and state that you are competing at the “South Island Akro Fest”.
October 10th and 11th, 2020 (weather delay will be following weekend – October 17/18)
Time
10 am Briefing both days
Cost
$120 (includes lunch)
Goodbye summer winter and Covid 19, Hello to the first annual North Island Akro Fest, hosted by the NZ Aerobatic Club. This is also the new installment of The Langley Marshall Trophy competition, in memory of Brian Langley and Paul Marshall, passionate Northshore Aero Club aerobatic instructors and stalwarts.
There will be individual category winners and also the awarding of The Langley Marshall Trophy, presented to the pilot scoring the highest overall percentage across all categories in the judged competition flights. Past winners have typically (but not always) been from the lower categories, so everybody has a chance to win The Big Trophy, like this guy below did…
This two-day competition will allow (weather permitting) at least three competition sequence flights per competitor, in your selected category.
Helpers are required both days to assist with ground duties (no helpers, no flying!) so please make yourself available if required. No experience is required for some of the roles, so get involved and get close to learn more about our sport.
Enter online at www.aerobatics.nz/events ASAP – Closing date September 10th (late entry fee $50 after that date)
Some have already entered and paid – thank you. Your continued entry intentions will be confirmed individually.
