Anyone Compete in Beginners Aeros?

[paulo]

I'm wondering about doing it this year and am curious to know how much practice one might have to put in to make a reasonable result for first timer, e.g. top 2/3rds ranking?

[IanSeager]

Paulo

I did a couple of beginners comps a few years ago. Great fun. I think I did about ten hours of practice. My advice (FWIW) is to get your aeros instruction/coaching from someone who has experience of competition, and the way you will be scored. Some of the AOPA courses are fine for learning to fly the aeroplane, but doing them for a good competition result can be different.

[flickoff]

Paulo, as you seem to be in London the very best person you could talk to is Alan Cassidy at White Waltham. He is Mr UK aerobatics (if there is such a thing!) and total committed to the cause of aerobatics both here and Internationally and unlike so many people who talk a good game, he can do it big time.

[TheAerosCo]

Paulo, Ian is right. One hour with a good coach (preferably critiquing from the ground) is worth ten hours floundering about on your own. Of course, where you end up in the ranking rather depends on how good the others are! However, you should also be aware that the Beginners is now not a competition in its own right, but an event run as an introduction to competition aerobatics. So in theory there are no placings anyway. Incidentally, to enter your first Beginners you must now be a member of the BAeA (a change from last year) but your first entry fee is still waived. Checkout the BAeA website or email me for further gen.

[bertiethebadger]

How would you go about competing in such an event?

Can anybody whose comleteted the AOPA course enter? I guess you would need the use of a suitable aircraft with public CofA etc. Do aero clubs send 1 or 2 AC for all there members to use? What about insurance?

[bertiethebadger]

there thier their... oops

[TheAerosCo]

BtB. .First join the British Aerobatic Association (BAeA), who run the events (http://www.aerobatics.org.uk/). This will furnish you with all the rules, regulations and paperwork requirements that you need to participate.. .You do not need to have completed the AOPA course. But fairly obviously you must be competent in your own mind with the Beginners sequence and be able to fly it safely to not below the base height of 1500ft (this is the minimum - go higher if you want). I strongly recommend getting checked-out by a pilot who is conversant with competition aeros beforehand (BAeA has a list of check pilots). It is also a good idea to attend a comp beforehand just to watch and get a feel for what is required.. .Aircraft requirements. Anything with a valid permit/c of A is OK. Insurance minimum is 500k third party. Shared aircraft are a great way to keep the costs down. Sometimes 4 or more people are using the same aircraft; in these cases the running order is tailored to allow maximum spacing between entrants using the same machine and it does not normally cause a problem.

[paulo]

Thanks for the advice - sounds like it's within reach. I'm currently flying a club Robin - a bit far from where I live, but I can take a week off to do some intensive practice.

Going to see a comp sounds like a good start.

Looks like it's a long old wait though - Wales in May for the opener for beginners.