Enter Now!

Entries close on Friday 31st of January…in only six weeks! ($50 late entry fee after that). Just do it NOW so you don’t forget (you can always change your mind and cancel a bit closer).

Even if you are not entering at this stage, please give us (the organisers) a heads-up via any means – email, WhatsApp, text – that you are planning on attending.
Before entering, get your documents together (we known, it’s a pain but we need them to verify you’re legal) and sequences sorted. We can accept pictures of your sequences but prefer .seq files please (contact us if you need a hand with OpenAero).

No Snoozing- get your entries in ASAP. Smoke your entries on in!

Sort your accommodation – ASAP

Now is the time to grab your friends and get a Book-a-Bach or an Airbnb.

Morris has the ‘Presidential Suite’ (hangar apartment) booked but may have room for friends if you are quick.

Also, we have permission to set up a tent/camper/van ‘city’ adjacent to the Aero Club (like they do at Oshkosh). And there may be some rooms/beds in the Aero Club and “Ravensdown” hangar too.

All camping or accommodation at the Aero Club / Ravensdown is FREE (except for van rental, if needed). This will be the best (and cheapest) place to be in Masterton!

The Aero Club has full kitchen and bathroom facilities to support us, and a swimming pool too, so we will have a fun time being right on the airfield.

If you have your own tent, van or camper – great! If not, let us know via the ENTRY FORM (or flick us a message) so that we can help sort out something for you – there are rental caravans available in Masterton that can be delivered to the airfield.

We can’t stress enough how important it is to sort out some accommodation NOW – Golden Shears is on too, and that makes accommodation very scarce and/or expensive.

Sequences

For the 2025 Nats, we are changing the format for Primary and Recreational only.

Please read the following carefully, identify which category you are in, and understand which sequences you will be flying.

Note – there are NO CHANGES to the format for Sport/Intermediate/Advanced/Unlimited.

Documents

• Sort your Aerobatic rating and BFR ASAP. Please chase your instructor to get your Aerobatic Rating renewed so you can get some practice in on your own and reduce the amount of safety pilot rides needed, as this really slows down the competition flights. (But we will have safety pilots available if necessary.)
• Medical – make sure it is current for the comp dates
• LLDAs – if you need one (intermediate and above), you should have it by now. If you don’t have one, you can’t practice or compete below 1500’AGL until you do.
• Insurance – we need to see evidence of current Third-Party insurance of at least $2 million.
• And of-course make sure the plane you will be flying has a current maintenance release and no outstanding defects.

Upload these docs when you submit your entry form and bring a copy to the competition

Entry Fees

Do it straight after you enter (we will refund any fees paid if you can’t make it). The Club bank account details are on the entry form. Entry fees are based on the number of flights you are scheduled to fly (at $60/flight):

• Primary / Recreational / Sports – 3 flights – $180
• Int/Adv/Unl – 4 flights – $240
• 4 Minute Freestyle is truly Free, due to the entertainment value and cost of your smoke oil.
• If you are keen, you can enter in more than one category, in a different aircraft only, and at the CD’s
  discretion.
• Remember, you must be a paid-up NZAC member too. Membership is still only $35.00.
• Lunches are extra (but FREE for registered volunteers/helpers/judges). We have found it much easier to plan and pay ahead like this, so please help us to make the event run smoother. Dinners are extra too, as is the awards dinner. But just use the entry form, do some maths, and pay the correct amount. Thanks.
• Landing Fees – this year, Hood Aerodrome will be imposing standard landing fees on all aircraft – $10 per aircraft / per day (unlimited movements).

There may be hangarage fees depending on which hangar your aircraft is in – sometimes this is a donation towards beer. There is a question in the entry form regarding hangarage – please answer this so that we can help if required.

Trophies

We need these back – someone else might beat you this year.

If you won something last year, please engrave it with your name in the same style as previously used then polish it and either bring it back with you or send it to us c/- the Wairarapa Aero Club.

AGM

This is your notification for the NZAC Annual General Meeting, to be held at 1900 on Thursday 27th of February at Wairarapa Aero Club.

If you have any general business for discussion, please send it to the Treasurer prior, and/or be ready to present it at the meeting.

If you would like to be part of the committee, or nominate someone who should be, please email Morris or Andy.

AGM Agenda

The agenda for the AGM is as follows:

• Apologies
• Minutes from previous year and matters arising
• President’s/Treasurer’s report for 24/25 season
• Election of officers
• General Business

Questions?

If you have any questions, then please contact:

Organisers

• Grant Benns (0210629929) [email protected]
• Morris Tull (+971506449584/ +642102401094 when in NZ) [email protected]

Contest Director

• Steve Geard 021 351 645 [email protected]

PS – There will be beer and great food at the finish line. We are looking forward to catching up with all you crazy aviators at Hood Aerodrome soon