12 November 2014
The British Aerobatic Association is sending the greatest number of British pilots in its history to a world championship for the inaugural Intermediate World Championship in South Africa.
Based in Mossel Bay from the 26 November, partnered with the Yak52 world championship, the event has attracted participants from 17 countries with each pilot having to fly four sequences for the international team of judges.
Team GBR will consist of eight pilots including the current British Intermediate Champion Mike Collett along with Emily Collett who is one of the leading advanced level pilots in the UK and the current top British female aerobatic competition pilot (and also happens to be Mike’s wife).
The team includes Chris Sills who has been pushing Mike hard all season, John Scott a regular winner at intermediate, Paul Brice and Phil Massetti who have been competing at advanced all year, David Cowden and Stephen Hipwell, who are both highly competitive at intermediate level.
“The intermediate world championship is in its first year and joins the established world championship events for advanced and unlimited pilots,” commented Alan Cassidy, BAeA Chairman.
“If you want to represent your country in aerobatics, this new level doesn’t require such high performance aircraft, or quite as much experience, making it more easily attainable for new aspiring aerobatic pilots.
“The team we are sending to South Africa is the biggest team we have ever sent to any world championship. However, it is also one of the strongest in terms of the potential for winning a team medal as well as individual medals, there are three current and previous national champions in the team along with regular winners at the intermediate level.”
“Representing your country is the pinnacle of any sport,” added Emily Collett. “We train hard all year to be competitive in our national competitions and this training is now being put to good use in representing Great Britain. Our aim is to bring back a team medal, but we are all flying new aircraft in the competition so there is a steep learning curve when we get out there. There is great pride in the team to be representing Great Britain and a team medal would achieve our team objective, but we also all want to compete for individual medals.”
Updates from the world championship can be found <a href=’http://www.civa-results.com/2014/WIAC_2014/indexpage.htm’ target=’_blank’>here</a> as well as the team’s Facebook page.
