CD's Report
Weather rules, Ok? Ok , and in few activities does it rule more firmly than it does in aviation. Pilots had been enjoying un-seasonal high pressure whilst simultaneously monitoring more seasonal rain fronts to be the west. Both - the pilots and the rain - arrived in time for the briefing on Friday morning, and even now on Sunday morning the rain clouds are still there. They suspended their activities for a few hours on both Friday and Saturday to facilitate a contest, so did not prevent nine pilots leaving with medals round their necks and smiles on their faces.

Commendable performances indeed, but commendation must too be paid to BAeA’s increasing organisational effort. Of the many chores necessary before a contest, locating the box makers is arguably the most tiresome (arduous?). Fifty - odd sheets have to be positioned with absolute accuracy at nine locations in quite unsympathetic countryside. In recent years this has been executed by Steve Green and Graham Hill, who typically dedicate a couple of days of their own time to do so. In addition they now install all the poles and strings required to enable line judges to define if pilots stray outside said box. It all imposes greater demands on both pilots and crew, but if we are to maintain our reputation as a serious team in world aerobatics it must be done. It was pleasing to see team spirit manifest itself in a few incidents of contest re-organisation which became necessary at Elvington. WAC '07 is only a few weeks away and appreciation is due to the UK team, which embraces not just dedicated pilots but selfless organisers and fundraisers, plus generous sponsors.

Back to Elvington. Well, dear reader, if you have read one CD’s report you have read them all; only the names change! Several experienced officials brief numerous apprehensive pilots, in a grotty hut overlooking a million pounds worth of aeroplanes. There then follows an hour of frantic preparational activity followed by two hours of tedious conversations about, inter alia, weather; next come 20 minutes of frantic activity to get pilots and judges into positions where they can see each other, until either the weather Gods and/or the local NIMBYs prohibit flying, typically about 1800L. All personnel are then magically transposed into various local inns where they make that most difficult decision, to drink or not to drink. Next comes hard bargaining with the innkeeper to arrange an early breakfast, and ditto with a driver to arrange wheels to the airfield ~ where you will be reminded of that old Chinese proverb which says that no matter how early you arrive at an airfield there will always be someone there before you.

Day two at Elvington followed the pattern of day one, but with an earlier and longer clearance in the weather; Friday’s had facilitated just the 3 Unlimited flights, but Saturday’s enabled Advanced Free, Intermediate Known, Unlimited Free and Advanced Unknown. It is not my place to comment on the standards of flying (so I am told!) but I understand that the final group found their sequence “extremely challenging”...

Even in flyable weather interruptions are inevitable, but on Saturday we were pleased to suspend op’s for a triple fly by from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight: Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane. Moving, no matter how many times you see it.

Alas we were not able to accommodate the last two groups (Int and Unl unknowns), so flying ceased just before 1800, when lovely Diane (erroneously re-christened Diana by the mentally challenged CD) Smith, ever patient wife of pilot Cas, presented winnings to those listed elsewhere.

Renewed and heartfelt thanks are made to all pilots and personnel, with particular appreciation to Steve Green as HCO and CJ.
Eric Marsh, Contest Director