The Event Makes A Comeback After 2020 Cancellation 

The US National Aerobatic Championships will take place Sunday, September 19-September 24. Over 100 pilots are expected to arrive at the Salina Regional Airport to compete. Salina was selected as the event location after being selected from over 40 airports across the midwest.

The 2020 championships were canceled, but they are back this year. “We hope this is the second of many visits to Salina,” said Doug Bartlett, contest director, of Naples, Florida. The event is organized by a volunteer team made up of members from the International Aerobatic Club, headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

85 airplanes are expected to land at Salina Airport this weekend for the contest. There will be five categories; Primary, Sportsman, Intermediate, Advanced, and Unlimited in both power and glider. The competition holds both compulsory and freestyle aerobatic sequences.

Included are collegiate competitors from three universities - University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, United States Air Force Academy from Colorado Springs, and Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Pilots in each category fly at least three routines:

• Known: where all competitors fly a pre-published set of maneuvers
• Unknown: maneuvers are presented to the pilot 12 hours before
• Freestyle: pilots create their own routine based on maneuvers allowed in their category

Upon completion of the competition the winner of the Unlimited power division will be named the National Aerobatic Champion. “That’s where the most advanced pilots in the country will compete,” Bartlett said. “It’s the best demonstration of aircraft and pilot skills.”

“The airport will be moving in bleachers,” he said.

FMI: www.iac.org/nationals