A bit of hard work and good fortune
by Hector Ramirez
Group photo by Leigh Hubner
The 2024 Snowbird aerobatic contest is in the books! With a bit of hard work and good fortune, all three sequences were flown for all categories! It was not without a bit of drama as weather delays for rain and low ceilings almost compromised the unknowns.
Friday was a total wash and the day sacrificed to the weather gods. Instead, many of the contestants took refuge at the nearest hot spot, Alley Gatorz Bowling Center, for a day of friendly competition on the ground.
After the Saturday morning briefing, low clouds kept the aerobats on the ground, but the group was treated to RC displays by the local club. Simply amazing what the radio-controlled aircraft can do flying prop and duct fan models with extraordinary skill, speed and precision.
Saturday's low ceilings finally lifted by early afternoon and a mad dash to finish the Unknowns was almost sabotaged by threatening thunderstorms. The last flight finished just as the box officially closed and everyone then made a beeline to the Montgomery Center for a delicious dinner, exciting awards ceremony and chapter auction by Miller Monarch, Leeward's premier professional auctioneer.
Chapter 89 congratulates all of the pilots for their persistence and perseverance, despite difficult weather conditions. Final results are posted and kudos to the first-place finishers, Scott Tennant in Primary, Adro Begrow in Sportsman, Nathan Zieman in Intermediate, Stanley Moye in Advanced and Michael Gallaway in the Unlimited category. The only regret for the contest was the lack of time to fly the 4-minute free event.
2024 Snowbird Aerobatic Contest turned out to be a great success and now we turn our sight to the next events in Sebring, Florida and Rome, Georgia. Game on!!
