By Jessie Weisner (Twitter: @Jessie__Weisner)

Canadian National Aerobatics Championship winners announced

Sep 5, 2018 | 8:57 AM

The Alberta Aerobatic Club hosted their annual Canadian national aerobatics championship at the Rocky airport this weekend.

Roughly 20 Pilots competed on Saturday and Sunday in primary, sportsman, intermediate, advanced and unlimited categories.

Each pilot performed up to three routines, a ‘known’ that was given to them at the beginning of the year, an ‘unknown’ that was given to them the day before competing and an optional ‘free’ which allows them to create their own sequence.

Jesse Mack flying an Extra 300L took the top spot in the sportsman power, achieving an overall score of 82.77%.

Luke Penner also flying an Extra 300L came in first in the intermediate power, taking a score of 84.49%.

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Dave Barbet flying a Pitts Special S-1E won in the unlimited power with a total score of 81.82%.

The top three contenders in each category receive a plaque of a photo of their plane.

Other aircrafts that participated in the competition include a Christen Eagle II, Vans RV-6, Sukhoi SU-26 and a Rhin DR-107 One Design.

Kelly Gosson, Secretary for the Alberta Aerobatic Club and pilot, says although it’s a competition, the aerobatic community it tightly knit.

“It’s a competitive sport but it’s not so competitive that no one wants to talk to each other,” says Gosson. “We all want each other to be safe and accurate and fly our best routines.”

Gosson adds this is the first time in a while that the event was able to go on.

“Unfortunately our event has been rained out the last few times,” says Gosson. “If the clouds are too low or there’s rain in the area or any kind of weather event that could compromise the aircraft then we shut everything down.”

The competition has been hosted by the Rocky Mountain House airport annually for more than seven years.

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