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United States National Aerobatic Championships

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PAUL161

PAUL161

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From Sunday, September, 20th to Saturday, September 26th,2009 at the North Texas Regional Airport, Sherman/Denison, Texas.
My son will be competing this year in the advanced glider category. He won first place in the intermediate category in 2008. His new plane is a rare Swift, known world wide as one of the best aerobatic gliders made. Rare because they have been out of production for a few years and are very difficult to buy. He will be competing, amongst others, against the three time national champion. Here's a couple of clips during a practice, (Rest), session at home in Oklahoma.
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Link https://www.usnationalaerobatics.org/USN2009/reginfo.html
2009 US Nationals Registration Information
 
That's excellent!

I used to fly in to the Sussex Airshow here in NJ years ago (but they gave up running it).
The sailplanes were so elegant. One of the aero-pilots I saw was an ex-Lufwaffe pilot who learned in glider...that guy was something!

We have nearby ~Blairstown Airport~ , which has a lot of gliders.

G'luck!
 
Paul-
Thanks for this post. The Swift is indeed in a class of it's own! Wish I could come watch.... Good luck to your son.
 
The Swift is so slick in design, in a vertical dive, it will go from 0 to 150 kts in a heart beat and with it's ailerons being 3/4 the length of the wings, it'll snap your head out of joint. This airplane is not for the light of heart. He was extremely lucky getting it, as he found out before it hit the market that it was for sale. At the time, it was the only one in the world for sale. Interesting and understandable, the previous owner would only sell it to a certified aerobatic pilot.
Here's a link to the site if anyone is interested. My son, Paul Jennings, will be flying in the glider unlimited category.

https://www.usnationalaerobatics.org/USN2009/scores.html
Results of the 2009 IAC US National Aerobatic Championships
 
I'm proud to say that <span style="font-weight: bold">my son won a first place over the three</span> <span style="font-weight: bold">time national champion in the unlimited category today</span>.
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They have to fly three designated sets of maneuvers within an invisible box laid out by the judges. Everyone flys within the same box and to go outside the box is almost a disqualification. To keep an eye on where you are in this invisible box and read your maneuvers from a chart in front of you is a true test in it's self, let alone flying the aircraft.
 
Congratulations to your son (and you!!) :banana:
 
Congratulations!

We used to watch the gliders going up when we were on vacation in Vermont (Warren). We could spend hours just watching the planes go up and the gliders play around.
 
Paul- What a great accomplishment for your son. I'm sure you are the proud dad as well you should be. :banana:
I took a person up for a ride when President Bush was as Camp David was sweating bullets to stay out of the no-fly zone that was extended for his visit. Your sons piloting skills make me feel like I am flying a bus with wings :laugh:
Tell him I say "Way to Go"!!!!!
 
Thanks guys, Today they fly their own designed set of maneuvers called the FREE. As his aircraft is designed for smoke, He was planning to use it with red, white and blue colors for this flight, as it is allowed only for this particular event. This is uncertain now as he's had a problem with the pyrotechnic (spelling?) supplier delivering on time.
Tomorrow they fly the UNKNOWN! The pilots are handed a flight diagram, that they've never seen before, only minutes before the flight and they have to fly the course with no practice session. Man, that's one tough puppy!
Spoke with him last night and he's happy but said that he hopes the point spread is closer today as it makes the competition more interesting. Like auto racing, the point spread is measured in the thousandths.
 
Congratulations from a former pilot... highest respect for the skills required!
 
He won the second round in the FREE. Another first.
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Today is round three.
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Well, I guess everybody should just fold up their wings and go home!
Tell him,nice job.
 
Just got back - congrats!
 
Thanks guys! Because of a weather set back yesterday morning, all the flights were pushed back about 5 hours and he flies his final program at 8:00 AM Thursday,24th instead of today. Another night of sweating it out, not him, me! He's as cool as he could be. I'm the nervous wreck.
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My son is now the National Glider Aerobatic Champion. Winning with a 187.07 point lead over the 2nd place winner, the previous three time National champion. Needless to say, his mom and I are very proud. An interesting note on this is, He's never had any aerobatic instruction, he is self taught. Pretty cool huh.
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My signature fits him to a "T".
 
Congratulations, Dad!
 
egad.

Congrats to th' lad! :thumbsup:
 
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