The BAeA power Advanced Team

What I forgot to mention was the air display between the display comp and the medals. This consisted of the director of the airfield doing some excellent aeros in a glider, some helicopter aeros, a now boring Yak-55 hovering/slow aeros - huh, we've seen it all before guys! (i am joking here, it was not apparent how some of the manoeuvres stepped away from the laws of physics, to oohhs and aaahhs of the crowd), an Extra twosome aeros with one extra full size and the other a 7 foot radio controlled model (with the perspective such that one did not know which was which), a dual aero display from the Romanians with the most amazing close formation, and whiz rounds by selected pilots, some very close to the crowd. Then the medals and then the rain.

Our next appointment was designated the closing ceremony at 19.30hrs, ticket only admission. At this point I would like to say that in order to get to where the action was I begged and borrowed what I could, being helped by the polish team, having been introduced by Cas (have I said that I spoke polish, which may come in useful next year where I believe this competition will be held, and which by association means that I understand and speak Czech, only the pronunciation being slightly different. I also speak German which is relevant later) so after the rain everyone headed off to their respective accommodation and took an afternoon nap. Come 19.00hrs pretty much everyone is decked out in finery - now tell me how with all the stuff that pilots have to do, do the Russians, down to a man, have the same pressed suit, white shirt, bright orange tie and patent leather shoes? And the French the same apart from a red bow tie. A red bow tie, wtf?
And everyone takes taxis to the centre of town to the designated place, through some doors, up a 3 metre wide marble staircase and up two floors. We are walking through a door that everyone thinks is a restaurant when the groans of disappointment are audible as we walk in. the room is set out with about 20 rows of chairs with another podium at the front. this can only mean one thing... speeches.

I can tell you that about 100 pilots and support in a room after a hard day, hungry and thirsty is not a pretty sight. And we all knew that we would be listening to the same speech twice, once in Czech with a quarter of the room understanding, and then in English with none of the room understanding. And after we all take up seats, indeed the room was brought to a sudden quiet by some music that I presumed was the Czech national anthem playing because everyone stands up (no one at the front at this point has said
anything). The music stops, we sit. We are then introduced to the people at the front, some FIA dignitaries, the speaker (a tv anchor person, female), a translator (male), the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, more FIA dignitaries. Hey wait a minute, yes, the prime minister of the Czech Republic. And then it starts.

Not only thank-you's to everyone but also a repeat of the medal giving ceremony at the airfield but this time with all top 10 pilots and teams and for each and every separate part of the competition 'we have first the top ten pilots for the free'. 'We now have the top ten pilots for the known', etc. each time 10 pilots get up, receive a diploma consisting of a piece of paper, then when all 10 in the section have got theirs, photos are taken and only then are they allowed to sit back down. Then it hits, someone has mucked up the diplomas for the first unknown. At this point it all stops. 7 pilots are standing at the front looking at the floor.

The tv presenter says 'jdjfhshfiuwenfsdjf sdfjsdfhskdjf', and there is a little laughter.
The translater says 'This is every presenters worst nightmare', no-one laughs.
Then 'sjdfhjf sdfsfh skjfh sfdk sdfjhs df', some more laughs.
Translater: 'This would be an opportune time to have the weather forecast for the Czech region', no-one laughs.

You do not need me to tell you that everyone was feeling for this poor girl because she could not carry on.
In the end, after about 10 minutes they asked all of the pilots who were up to sit down. Then the unknowns. Everything ok. Then 'the most prestigious diploma of all, the personal pilot standing'. We got to the first three (down to pilot 7) when, I am afraid, the same mess up happened. Poor, poor girl. The pilots eventually are told to sit back down. This will be cleared up later.

More speeches and finally after about an hour and a half we are let out to go down two levels to the ground floor and into a church. at least that is all I could think about with 7 foot crucifixes at the end of each room with a dying Christ on each, and marble columns. the second room, with two magnificent chandeliers edged with chefs carving meat and in the middle platters of cold stuff, a standing buffet. it was all very exotic and tasty!

So there I am talking to my new best friends (the Poles) when Irenius (Pole) brings me even closer to him (now here please be aware that Slavic personal space is inversely proportional to alcohol consumption, and in the later stages usually involves an arm around a neck for support and attention affirmation), anyway, Irenius says... 'General, look smart'. Who? What? Where? I am turning, thinking about what I need to do to look smart or more general - I am sure that I have not looked smart... ever, General I could possibly do if I tried, you know, it would need a change of cloths of course, when I turn around to face a gentleman in a striking cream linen suit, matching shirt and tie and the most exquisite cream, platted, patent leather, slip on shoes I have ever seen in my whole and entire life.

The poles are greeted in Russian and in the customary fashion - glasses are handed out and then topped up with wine. I, on the other hand, already have my sprite (I do not drink alcohol). I am forced to clink glasses and have the nouse to know what comes next. It was hard but I just about managed to down my sprite in one. I am now being introduced to Vladimir IVANOV the president of the Federation of Planes Sports of Russia. Oh, and a Russian General. He hands me his card which means that I now have his personal email ! Note to everyone that is going to attend one of these, bring a personal business card 'cos every ones' got one, and easiest to exchange, especially when one is, how can I put this, in a difficult position mentally to write things down. I smile sweetly unable to comprehend the conversation, Russian not being one of mine, although he is able to understand my polish, its how it works, don't ask.

After this, food is eaten, wine is drunk. More wine is drunk. And more. Now I have come across very few people such as the General (not even 'the General' implying that there is only one) with this sort of... I am not sure what it is, 'cos it is more than power, there is this respect that is granted without any knowledge of why. (This 'do something' scenario is repeated later with the Germans, when this time I am told to 'stand up straight' ! - this time though 'General' (pronounced with a hard 'G', like good), speaks German, and hey, at last I can ask some questions !

The evening then is resumed in the many bars and clubs around the old town, with, its seems, the Germans staying up all night, at least that is what they said at breakfast, and it certainly looked like it from their eyes.

Now I know that if someone points only an idiot looks at the finger, and so I know that not competing gave me a totally different perspective and experiences to that of the competitors. I took Cas to the airfield, helped prepare, and waved good bye, which was at EXACTLY 08.30hrs (he was not allowed to start his engine before this time because that was the time he had said he was leaving on the flight plan).  Then I started to say goodbye to the others some of whom were taking back with them the remains of the Russian propellor as mementos! And I headed off to Prague, sad to leave the airfield. Here it departs a little from aeros so please bear with me.

The Czech Republic is very fond of the female figure, that is the only way I can describe the adverts that line the motorways. there is one particular one that is of a very round suntanned brown female bottom with an ice cube melting on it. To this time I do not know what the advert is for, and I believe accounts for the journey that should take 1.5hrs taking 3 hours, that and the signs, I was constantly taking wrong turnings (a little like my routines). Also, the radio stations in the Czech Republic do not censor the songs and so careering down the autobahns I get the unexpurgated versions of current chart songs. Now I thought that Gwen Steffani was a nice girl. From the actual lyrics of her current single 'bananas' she apparently is not.

And here I am sitting in Prague, and back to asking for help and support. What I am doing is conducting a study and am about half way through, not even. You see it is very easy to recognise the Czech females from the tourists, one can bounce a fifty pence piece off of the bum of a Czech female. And to this end I have been conducting a survey, but unluckily I have run out of fifty pence pieces. So am asking for sponsorship for what is, I am sure you agree, a very valuable study. Please dig deep. I am only surprised that no-one has as yet completed this noble and worthy task.

All memories of Hradec Kralove smell sweetly.

Yours until the next time,
Space Cadet

Now... are we sitting down? Well, yesterday I watched a Russian team Yak 54 (two seat 55) drive straight into a Skoda, prop first. I am sorry to say the Skoda did not survive. the Yak on the other hand had its propellor replaced by one from a Yak 55 and will be competing today. I have photos and will post when I get back, as well as my many others.
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Briefing has just finished, and for the last pilots the wind has been switched 180 degrees - the box still being 30 at degrees to the box alignment, so no stress there then. The gift given to the pilots consists of a 2kg statuette made of marble and glass, hmmm... gift, one gallon of fuel, gift, one gallon of fuel, choices, choices.
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Cas has just flown and it looked good, but as we all know it is down to the fat lady singing. The Yak-54 has also flown without incident - by the way the Skoda was parked on a taxiway, plonker... which in Czech means 'by all means park here where all the planes are moving about'. Today the public has turned out and there will be an airshow after about lunch.
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Of course that should read the runway is at 30 degrees to the box alignment and 180 degrees to yesterday, so no stress (the internet access has a queue and just so happens to be down wind of you know what and so concentration and the desire to leave promptly pervades the soul, as does the smell). The Russians are busy taking the prop off the 54.

What I have noticed is that there is a massive difference in the flying style of the top 10 and the others, even though I have seen some of the top ones noticeably loose it, they do recover well - in the 2nd unknown the start is full of -ve, with a +ve at about manoeuvre 4 and then more -ve's and you can see the good pilots changing their style so that the effects are decreased where as the not so good carry on as if it were a normal routine and basically loose it somewhere between 5 and the end.

And the prop is now on the 55, now as I said before I have not been here very long (due to the downwind thingy), I touch type and so this email is pretty quick... as is the replacement of propellors by the Russian team.
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So that's the last flight and the final results should be up, with few surprises. I now have a picture of the damaged propellor that now has emancipated 4 inch blades, whilst taking the picture the Russian engineer said 'now propellor for peeetz'. Which takes me very neatly to the atmosphere here, 4 inches being the average of the length of the pilot girlfiends' skirts who stroll along the plane parkway for no apparent reason, and especially in front of competition pilots just about to fly. What can I say ? I am glad I was not flying. But it is distracting when one should be look up at a plane doing stuff, and isn't, especially when Cas asks 'how did I fly'?

Have just had lunch and the fare was fried rice, beef covering a mixture of gherkin, egg and ham, smothered in a cream sauce with a chocolate cream dessert. I am wondering how anyone has been able to take off (the desert was in the shape of a willy, btw). My last comment on the subject is that in the hot weather one drinks a lot, so guess where I have to go just now. If I do not return, please avenge my demise.
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Phew. I mentioned the dessert 'cos it added the the surreal atmosphere in the hanger where lunch was taking place, which was essentially underground and no doubt at some point contained something that was very, very fast. There was beer for lunch as well you'll be glad to know. Also just heard that the Lithuanian was a little lax at getting off the ground to do his routine and was told not to fly. The winner is just doing a memonstration flight. I have also learnt that a three bladed prop on an extra is a lot better than a four.
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I am sorry, it was the Ukranian not a Lithuanian. Also that should be demonstration, not sure what a memonstration is but am sure its good. As I have said its a little difficult to concentrate at the computer, so apologies for the bad spelling and the running aw.
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Forgot to mention that the tv crews are here and were very interested in Cas before his flight. At one point I swatted one away that had stuck his two foot (length) camera into Cas's cockpit, whilst Cas was in it and about a minute before he was about to fly, holding the camera 3 inches from Cas's nose. Note to self - Fenland, employ camera crew and babes to annoy other pilots. Do not forget, no chance otherwise.
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Romania - 6 Extras, one lost in mountains on delivery flight from Germany, one lost because no fuel in tanks at the start of an aerobatics show (engine stopped 2 meters above ground, 130mph, just before an Immelmann) and one lost because a guy refuelling another aeroplane did not use the earthing wire, fuel set alight and the guy essentially threw burning fuel away from himself... onto a brand new extra with 20 hours.
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Its not a demonstration flight, it is a competition of the top ten pilots with a set 4 figure routine, judged by the other pilots, and very good it is too. You should be here. Hans Vogtmann would like to say hello to everyone he knows, and also mentioned something about someone dancing on a table and falling off.
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All over, medals handed out, crystal trophies cradled in arms, plastic bags of cleaning products to the podium winners, and then the heavens opened up. Chesneau won the last comp btw.

Now am coming back to work on my fly, work, life percentages. Hope I was not too boring.
Space