Russian Takes Top Honors In 2017 Competition In South Africa

Russia’s Mikhail Mamistov has been crowned FAI World Aerobatic Champion for a third time after a hard-fought competition in South Africa. The legendary Aerobatics pilot won the FAI Gold Medal at the 29th FAI World Aerobatic Championships in Malelane, SA, after a competition that lasted a week, from 9-17 September 2017.

He came out top ahead of two strong French pilots: Francois Rallet was in second place with French team mate Olivier Masurel Aerobatics in third. The top three pilots were all flying the Extra 330SC, a specialist Aerobatics plane. Mamistov was leading the competition when he went into his final flight and wasn’t entirely happy when he’d finished. “I did not expect the strong crosswind,” he said, “and I had to correct a lot of maneuvers, but it was not too bad.” In the end he had done enough to take the win.

The weather sometimes made things difficult for the pilots over the week. “It has been a very interesting competition,” Mamistov said. “It has been hot weather, with poor visibility – interesting conditions for competing.”

Some 36 pilots from 11 nations took part in the competition, which saw four complete Aerobatic runs, or programs. In Aerobatic competition each pilot must complete a 10-minute program consisting of numerous Aerobatics maneuvers before the competition moves onto the next round. Medals are awarded for each program.

Just missing out on the podium was Alexandre Orlowski (FRA), who won the first two programs and was leading the competition. However, he slipped back to fourth place overall after the second two flights. Also experiencing disappointment was Spain’s Cástor Fantoba | Unlimited Aerobatics, who went from second overall after three programs, to finishing seventh following a low-scoring fourth program.

Mamistov is no stranger to the podium in international Aerobatics competition. He has been FAI World Aerobatic Champion twice before – this is his third time – having won in 2001 and 2011. He has also been FAI European Aerobatic Champion five times – 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2016.

In the Team results, France took home top honours. Francois Rallet, Olivier Masurel and Alexandre Orlowski all took home FAI gold medals. Russia was second, with the USA in third. In the separate, one-day Freestyle World Championship competition, Rob Holland Ultimate Airshows (USA) took gold, with Olivier Masurel (FRA) and Castor Fantoba (ESP) in silver and bronze.

(Images provided with FAI news release)

FMI: Full Results