The Mantra of
Vintage Aerobatic World Championship
“ VAWC gives these fabulous old-timers a new sense of purpose, and do re-ignite their proud owners and pilots. VAWC unites the competitive and social SPIRIT and gives you personally a sense of going somewhere, rather than retreating ”
– Hardy Vad, VAWC 2016 champion in category “Rolling the Circle” (KZ8) created a Mantra of VAWC:
Vintage Aerobatic World Championship 2023
August 24-27
St. Michaelisdonn Airfield north west of Hamburg. Hosted by one of the oldest German aeroclubs, the Dithmarscher Luftsportverein e.V.
Dear fellow
Vintage Pilot
Our beloved vintage airplanes are capable of performing the most beautiful manoeuvres in the sky. Add the sound of a Gipsy Major, Renault or Tigre … or a radial. We can do air-ballet, soaring towards our piloting dreams and romantic flying desires.
Every one of us loves to fly! Let’s do it together! Let’s connect and have some fun. Teach some old dogs new tricks, and give some young pup’s useful tips. Build some fun-flying relations. If you own a vintage airplane capable of aerobatics, please read on. If you don’t, read on anyway, we might need you on the judging line and/or in the bar! Many type of aircraft is welcomed and able to join – Tiger Moth, Chipmunk, Bücker Jungman, SAAB Safir, KZ-2, KZ-8, Klem 35, Stearman, Zlin, you name it.
To respond to many participants desire for learning new “stuff” and improve their flying elegance and precision we will arrange for a “Teaching the Tricks” flying/coaching day the day before the competition. Experienced pilots and judges will coach aerobatic rookies. Please just reach out for someone to coach you.
At VAWC 2022 we will build on the success of the special free-style-flight flown to music of your choice (please insert this during your registration). For 2023 we will again have “The Performance” split in two sub-groups: SoloPerformance and TeamPerformance. The “scoring principle” will still be based on selected pilots and judges functioning as a collective judging team. Great fun and socially intense! Please be aware that pilots flying “The Performance” shall explain/”dance” their Performance Flight at the bar-room floor the evening before the flight… allowing their judges to know and understand their creative intention with the air ballet. (and choice of music??!!)
TimeWinder competition:
Try to BEAT CLAUS! (again!)
We will invite to a social competition for the award evening: Who – pilot or team – can dress up to their plane? (..and time-age). Special judges will be hosting this great-fun-competition… actually with an ambition, that we will end up in a fantastic HangarParty!!!
Categories
Vintage category
Airplanes with type certificate (or alike) before 1955 and a least 65 years old.
Classic category
Airplanes with type certificate (or alike) before 1975 and after 1955, and a least 45 years old.
Replica category
Replicas of Vintage or Classic airplanes. Re-engined/modified vintage- and classic airplane
NB: Both powered planes and gliders are welcome. ( Glider pilots should arrange for tow-planes themselves. Often provided by the local organizer, however. Check out “contact” and reach out… )
Borderline cases will be accepted or denied by the steering group of VAWC
Flight categories
Please note that flying elegance and refinement is valued highly at VAWC… on par – or higher – than complexity. There will be three flight categories – you decide which suits your level of ambition.
(…select category in the registration form. Select only one category. Add your personal version of “The Performance” if you desire)
Know programs for VAWC 2023 to be announced soon. Below the Known programs from VAWC 2022.
Looping the Loop
Loop, wingover, barrel roll (right), 180dg horisontal turn, barrel roll (left), half cuban, 90dg horisontal turn, 270dg horisontal turn. NB: Flyable in “all” low powered airplanes. Remember you ARE allowed to dive for speed.)
Dancing the Cloverleafs
Humpty (inside), stall turn/hammerhead, horisontal roll, 1/4 clover (up), 1/4 clover (down), barrel roll (right), half cuban / 2/4 roll on downline, loop, 270dg horisontal turn. NB: (Flyable in most low powered airplanes. Remember you ARE allowed to dive for speed)
Dancing the Cloverleafs Piktogram
Rolling the Circle
Humpty (1/2 roll up / push / half roll down), half cuban / 2/4 roll down, 3 point roll, stall turn/hammerhead / 2/8 roll down, 1/4 roll up / half roll 45dg down line, loop/flick on the top, immelman, 1/4 rolling turn (inside, finishing inverted), 1/4 rolling turn (outside, finishing positive), two turn horisontal roll (left and right)
You can choose to participate as…
1. You can complement your choice of known program by participating in The Performance either as SOLO flight or TEAM.
2. If you desire, you can compete alone in The Performance (team or solo)
3. You can compete in as well The Performance team, and The Performance solo
The
performance
Free-style performance by individual pilots or teams (two categories, two winners). Showcase the unique qualities of your aircraft. Include creative elements like manoeuvres, rhythm and music. It’s in your hands! The sky’s the limit! Please note: If you are not familiar reading the ARESTI pictograms, please do not interpret these graphics too “specifically”. Corners shall NOT be “sharp corners”, a dotted line in what could look like a half loop means a horizontal turn etc. In case of ANY doubt please do not hesitate to reach out for chief judge or Søren Dolriis.
PLEASE NOTE following: Participants in The Performance must register in this category before the competition starts, and it is also a “must” that participants do prepare and present their flight (intentions, creative design (incl. music) and flight programme) at the briefing. Also please note the new time limitation of the Performance Flight to 6 min (SOLO Performance) and 8 minutes (TEAM Performance) (Do NOT feel obliged to use the maximum time :-))
Experienced
judging line
Judgeline will consist of international judges with huge experience from as well national and international aerobatic competitions. Below the judge line from 2022, Stay tuned for the announcement of the judgeline for 2023.
Chief Judge Nick Buckenham assisted by Jen Buckenham (UK)
International Judge Hanna Räiha (Finland) assisted by Søren Dolriis (Denmark)
International Judge Reiner Scheler (Germany) assisted by Uwe Suthau (Germany)
Experienced competition management:
Contest Director Claus Cordes (Germany)
Scoring + assisting CD Hanna Räiha (Finland)
Jury: Hanna Räiha, Cheif Judge (TBD), Søren Dolriis + LG Ardvison (remote)
Our
ambition
ambition
THINK BIG! We – the organizing team – will listen and reach for the stars, and plan for a GREAT future for VAWC as a recurring event, with public interest. But we will INSIST on keeping the social/flying ambition balance. Please pre-register already now, and please do SPREAD the world in your social network. (PS: Spouses and “Ground Team” really make an important part of the atmosphere at VAWC. Please bring your “team” to St. Midhaelisdonn Airfield.
Søren Dolriis VAWC Founder
