WAC Day 0

Wended my way down to Foligno Aeroporto this morning to catch up with the guys. Both Rich and Paul flew early in the box - the first time they had while still cool. Both looked comfortable and flew well. The 300S with 4-blade prop isn't as fast as Paul's but seems to hang on and accelerate from slow speeds better. The different spades means aileron feel is different also - a case of adapting it seems. The South African's said the same regarding flying Rob Holland's MXS vs. their MX2's.
Needless to say there is an enviable collection of hardware parked about: several 330SC, an LT, a couple of CAPs and a surprising number of Sbach, as well as the Sukhoi variations.
Watched a little flying apart from our guys, and the difference from the top to the rest is apparent. Very interesting to see how some do their thing.
Lodged the Free and registered. Met quite a few people, most very friendly, all focussed on getting organised and enjoying the event. Pilot briefing at 1630 and then opening ceremony at 2000 tonight.

WAC Training Terni

I'm still on the Grand Tour of Italy, but have been in contact with Paul and Richard

via text and skype this morning.

Temperatures in Italy have been pretty warm, with 38-40C in Rome and the lowland

areas. Hopefully it will be cooler north at Foligno for the comp.   Weather has been

fantastic though, with very little cloud and light winds only.

The Team is flying regularly and yesterday had a practice in the  competition box at

Foligno.   Word is the box layout is OK from an orientation viewpoint.   The training

airfield,Terni, is a tight runway and the surrounds are very hilly with few good

horizons.   The rented Extra is running OK, but doesn't seem to have the performance

of Paul's 300S.  The 4 blade prop and small spades make it handle and accelerate

differently, but the boys are adapting and compensating. The US Team and the South

Africans are also at Terni, and Rich and Paul have been assisting in some of their

maintenance issues.   Generally a good bunch, with Rob Holland showing the way in

freestyle mode flying his MXS-RH.   The SA Team, sharing the MXS-RH, have strugggled

a little with the aft CG Rob has set up. Today's plan was another run in the Foligno

box, and general airwork.

The Russians have had some technical issues which grounded them, thus freeing up box

slots.   Rumour has it that the French were grounded after upsetting the locals at

their training field. Training will continue until Wednesday, with the opening

ceremony that night, competition starting the next day. Be sure to follow this blog,

as the primary means of communication, with key info being repeated on the AAC FB

page and AAC website.

Looking forward to it!

WAC 2011 Foligno, Italy

I ducked down to Tocumwal, the training site for our Team, last Tuesday. It is a great flying location with Lee Gordon-Brown's beaut hangar made available, a box marked on the airfield, and little traffic. The crossed runways, 09/27 and 18/36, might be taking it too far in the easy direction though!

Paul's Asset Insure Extra 300S hasn't missed a beat during training and was neat and shiny. Coincidentally, the 300S the boys are using in Italy is only one serial number different, so hopefully it will fly the same.
As it was the first day back after a few days off, Paul and Richard began by flying the Q. Certainly both looked sharp and the intensive training with critique and video assistance has paid dividends. After lunch at the local bakery it was Free time, with some further tweaks to the sequence being tried out.

An unfortunate occurrrence due to the regular training at Toc were a couple of noise complaints - considering most days were ony 4 flights of 15 minutes each or so, everyone was a little surprised! Most satisfying was that many other locals came out in strong support for us. In fact, one lady started a petition and walked the streets doorknocking for signatures! Thanks Tracy. We handed the petition to the Berrigan Shire Councillors the next day as part of our, or more correctly Paul's, address to them on the activities. We showed them a cockpit video and explained some of what we are about, and they expressed support provided there weren't any legal ramifications from the EPA.

Rain moved in on Tuesday night, and Wednesday was unflyable. After the obligatory several coffee's, council meeting and visit to the bakery, Paul departed for Melbourne to fly out on Friday. Rich and I held until 1430, and when there was no chance of me flying out for home he offerred to drive via my place to Sydney. Thanks a lot Rich.

So now we soon depart for the 26th WAC at Foligno, keen to experience this great sport at the highest level. It will be a great learning experience to see the best aerobatic pilots doing their thing!


Check out the boys on the WIN news WIN, and Paul pushing his way around an Unknown UNK .

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