Russia and France scoop top awards at World Aerobatic Championship
The top performers of the 2017 Unlimited World Aerobatic Championship were rewarded for their amazing piloting skills at the prize-giving and closing ceremony of the international event in Malalane on Sunday night.
Following a gruelling week of flying, braving strong winds and unfamiliar heat, Mikhail Mamistov of Russia was crowned the 2017 Unlimited FAI World Aerobatic Champion on Sunday night.
The contest was held at the TSB Airfield outside Malalane from last Saturday, and concluded with a memorable prize-giving ceremony at Pestana Kruger Lodge on Sunday night. All the competitors, judges and officials were accommodated there for the week and lauded the lodge for its top-class facilities and food.
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The 52-year-old winner started competing in 1987 and was crowned the overall World Aerobatic Champion in the Unlimited category in 2001 and 2011. He has close to 100 medals from various aerobatics competitions and a string of titles behind his name.
Mamistov made several trips to the podium for, among others, the Breitling Watch award and medals for being among the top three in three of the championship’s programmes.
Francois Rallet and Olivier Masurel of France took overall second and third place.
The championship’s Freestyle winner was Rob Holland from the USA, who took the title for the fourth time. He received a beautiful, large elephant-shaped trophy sponsored by Pestana.
Matsurel came in second, followed by Castor Fantoba from Spain, with Porche-sponsored pilot Nigel Hopkins from South Africa in fourth place and Alexandré Orlowski from France in fifth.
The Freestyle programme is traditionally held on the last day of the competition, with a separate champion being crowned.
The programme was delayed somewhat on Sunday morning, due to strong winds that blew away or damaged tents and gazebos at the airfield the previous night.
Luckily, by 12:00, the winds had subsided and the 17 competitors took to the sky. They performed four-minute routines with smoke and music which showcased the pilots’ bravery, skills and creativity and provided a very exciting sight for spectators.
France took the prize for the best performing team, the Russian Federation was second, the United States came in third and South Africa fourth.
The three top French pilots, Rallet, Masurel and Orlowski, were so elated by the win that they jumped from the podium into a small pool situated between the makeshift stage and the audience’s seating, with cheers and laughter coming from the audience.
The South African team was also awarded the Southern Cross trophy for being the best performers out of the Southern Hemisphere countries.
Despite the adverse weather conditions, the event was pronounced a success. The president of the international jury, Alan Cassidy, thanked the Sport Aerobatic Club of SA and the local community members who helped to host and supported the event. The Malelane Business Chamber was the core facilitator and host, with local sponsors such as Malalane Toyota, Nkomazi Fuel and Oil and RCL Foods – Sugar and Milling.
“Thanks to everyone who judged the competition and suffered in the heat and the dryness and maintained their concentration. I’d also like to express my respect and admiration to all the pilots who have taken part in this competition. I know from personal experience that this is the hardest possible thing I could imagine anyone ever trying to do,” Cassidy stated with a wide smile.
Nick Buckenham, the president of CIVA, the international aerobatics body, stated that the heat, dust, sun and jolly atmosphere at the opening and closing ceremonies made for a memorable event.
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He also mentioned that this was the first year since the championship started in 1986 that they had no female pilots on the roster. “Try and find some women and bring them to the world championships,” he encouraged the audience. “Pilots as well?” the question came from the crowd, who subsequently burst out laughing. “Both, if you can,” Nick dryly replied.
The formalities were then concluded, but the pilots, officials and organisers spent a while longer mingling and chatting about their African experience. Most headed back early on Monday morning, while others had to spend a few hours dissembling their airplanes to be shipped back home.
For the full results or more information on the competition, visit www.wac2017.co.za.
View the gallery with photos of the aeroplanes and prizegiving here.
