Contest Director's Report

Breighton Airfield, aka The Real Aeroplane Company, might reasonably be recognised as one of the foundations of British aerobatic activity. The former WWII taxiway was acquired by Tony “Taff” Smith in the late 1980’s, at which time Tony was active in British aerobatics competing in his spectacular Bucker Jungmann G-TAFF, which he also flew solo Australia to England. Just viewing the content of the hangars there is an awesome experience, but if you cannot make that then do view their website.

BAeA has been using the airfield since the 1980’s, where the management has always been sympathetic to aerobatics. This year 11 pilots were contesting the above three trophies, albeit with some local changes: alas the ubiquitous flying club café had closed for renovations, and the box, previously over the unoccupied disused runways, had been moved east to be over open countryside.

Both issues had been anticipated and resolved and were covered at first briefing by Zoom at 19:30 on Thursday 21 April. Standard briefings were given by Eric Marsh as CD, Nick Buckenham as CJ (replacing Brian McCartney who had contracted Covid), and Alan Marsland as AO. First on-site briefing was given by the same three in Hangar 2 (surrounded by some beautiful vintage aeroplanes) at 10:00 on Saturday, with first flight delayed until 13:00 due to low cloud, following which all 11 Knowns had been completed by 15:30. All pilots complained of extremely strong on-judge winds, supplemented by the judges’ experiencing dust being blown in their eyes. As a consequence it was agreed that flying cease until the following day with its improved forecast weather.

Sunday’s briefing was held at 09:00 sharp in Hangar 2, with updates from CD, CJ and AO, then first flight at 10:00 into a blue sky and less demanding wind.  A break was taken at 12:00 after the First Unknown, with all pilots having completed the Second Unknowns by 15:30. At the 16:00 final briefing Eric Marsh as CD thanked everyone for their contribution to another successful British Aerobatics event, specifically Breighton airfield personnel, the judging crew (listed elsewhere but including Scorer/Registrar Jen Buckenham and surprise visitor Leif Culpin), new caterer Pauline Trimble, and – most importantly – the pilots who had made such effort to entertain us with their safe flying of competition aerobatics. The bubbly Pauline was invited to present the awards, which she did to winners listed elsewhere

Eric Marsh, Contest Director