News & Updates 2020 Advanced Team

TEAM USA WITHDRAWS FROM WAAC 2021

Today the U.S. Advanced Aerobatic Team, led by team manager Mike Heuer, officially withdrew from the 2021 World Advanced Aerobatic Championships.

"The USA's support for international aerobatic competition is unwavering, but the international sanctioning body, CIVA, came up with a plan that was entirely incompatible with the needs of the US Team," said IAC President Jim Bourke. "Our team could not work with the changing contest dates or venues which made it impossible to ship planes nor could they arrange to have a coach present at the contest. One by one our team members left the team feeling discouraged. I've asked the IAC's CIVA delegate, Mike Gallaway to express our profound disappointment and feelings of discouragement at the next CIVA plenary, and to protest the transformation of what should be a world event into an event that is run entirely by and for teams from continental Europe. My thanks to everyone on the US Team for the amazing effort they put forward this year. They may not find a place on the podium but they served their country well."

WAAC 2021 moved from Czech Republic - relocated to Poland

June 22, 2021

On June 18, the organizing team of WAAC 2021 announced that they were canceling the event which was schedule to take place in Hoisn, Czech Republic. At that time, Nick Buckenham, CIVA present said, "Entry moneys already committed are safe and will shortly be returned to each competitor so that, when the final details are published in a few days, they will be able to refocus with the new organiser. I promise that more news will be circulated as soon as we are able."

In today's email to CVIA delegates Nick said, "I am now able to confirm that the 14th FAI World Advanced Aerobatic Championship will be relocated to Torun Airfield in Poland. This excellent result has been achieved at very short notice by the CIVA Bureau with the help and guidance of the Polish NAC, and for all of us provides an extremely welcome result with the minimum of disruption from the original solution.

The only alteration to the schedule relates to the start date, which the Polish organisers believe should be set back by two days so that the event will now run from Friday July 16th to the closing date of Saturday July 24th, with departures on Sunday 25th.

A revised WAAC Bulletin will be published in two to three days time, and the new Polish WAAC website should be operational in the same time-frame to enable entries to be registered. All details regarding the entry fees and dates for this championship remain unchanged from the earlier solution.

U.S. Advanced Team members to attend WAAC 2021

June 7, 2021

The U.S. Advanced Aerobatic Team, gathered again this week in Union City, Tennessee for a week of training under Rob Holland's direction. That said, we are sad to announce that some of our pilots have made the difficult decision not to travel to the Czech Republic for the World Advanced Aerobatic Championships which is scheduled for 14-24 July 2021. There are a variety of reasons for this, chief being the uncertainty of travel into the Czech Republic, which currently bans tourists from coming, to other issues both professional and personal.

We can guarantee you this was difficult for all involved. Team pilots Matt Dunfee, Johnny Wacker, and Marty Flournoy still plan to make the trip and will rent an Extra 330SC in Europe. Final deadline for entry fees comes on 9 July so that is a final date for any further decisions.

All of these gentlemen have participated in practice camps and continued in their dedication to the team through the cancellation last year of WAAC in hopes that the rescheduled date this year would prove . They should not suffer any consequences or pressure as a result of their decision. They have all been deeply dedicated to representing our country in world competition and deserve our admiration.

Mike Heuer, Team Manager

Team photo in April 2021 from a practice camp at Everett-Stewart Regional Airport, Union, Tennessee.

L to R: Mike Heuer, Jerry Riedinger, Marty Flournoy, Jeff Petrocelli, Adam Messenheimer, Alain Aguayo, Don Hartmann and John Wacker.

WAAC rescheduled for 2021

August 1, 2020, By Nick Buckenham

CIVA NEWS - The Forward Championships Calendar

Following a period to allow delegates to review and comment on the proposed new schedule of events that take into account the need to postpone 2020 championships due to the world-wide Covid-19 virus pandemic, we are now able to publish a revised Calendar of Events that provides all of the new dates for our postponed championships. To accommodate the shift of 2020 events into 2021 the previously approved championships from 2021 and 2022 have also by agreement been re-scheduled into new dates one year later.

It is certainly positive to see that so many countries are now planning to run a limited series of aerobatic competitions during the remainder of the year, in most cases representing their national championships for 2020. No doubt the signs of corona-virus restraint and the wearing of PPE will be all around, and we offer our very best wishes to all of you and trust that you are able to run safe and healthy contests for the benefit of your pilots and all other enthusiasts.

The 14th FAI World Advanced Aerobatic Championships will take place 15-24 of July 2021 at Hosin (LKHS) Hosin Airport, Hosin, South Bohemian Region, Czech Republic.

https://www.civanews.com/events/14th-fai-world-advanced-aerobatic-championships/

July 2020 - Training Camp

By Mike Heuer, Team Manager

Though we are not going to Europe this year for the World Advanced Aerobatic Championships, they have been re-scheduled for the summer of 2021 and our team pilots are committed to continue their practice and preparations. The last week of July, the team held a training camp in Union City, Tennessee (KUCY) under the watchful eye of team coach Rob Holland. Team pilots Adam Messenheimer and Marty Flournoy are participating with Steve Johnson handling the video. My thanks to Alice Johnson, who has substituted for me on organizing things on the ground.

WAAC 2020 Postponed

May 6, 2020

CIVA President Nick Buckenham announced that the 2020 World Advanced Aerobatic Championships will be postponed until 2021. Originally scheduled to be held in August in the Czech Republic, the coronavirus pandemic has caused the cancellation or postponement of most FAI air sports events this year including aerobatic championships.

The U.S. Advanced Aerobatic Team was making plans for training camps and practice and participation in the WAAC up until the pandemic broke out throughout the world. However, all eight team pilots have committed to competing in the 2021 championships and the 2020 team will remain the same and intact for next year. Though there is deep disappointment in the postponement of this year’s event, they look forward to flying for medals and trophies next year. The 2021 WAAC will most likely be held in the Czech Republic and additional details will be provided by the organizers in the near future.

CIVA's announcement today included their thoughts on future events that were already scheduled for 2021 and 2022. Discussions are underway to move all of these events forward by one year to 2022 and 2023. Nick stated that over all it is a difficult matter to resolve, but when they have secured final agreements for these events they will post information to their website and circulate to all interested parties.

A separate announcement regarding team selection at this year's U.S. National Aerobatic Championships will be made by the IAC board of directors.

By Mike Heuer

Team Manager

U.S. Advanced Aerobatic Team

Mike Heuer Confirmed as U.S. Advanced Aerobatic Team Manager

December 18, 2019

In mid-December, U.S. Advanced Aerobatic Team Captain, Jeff Petrocelli contacted Mike Heuer to let him know of the team pilots’ nomination for him to serve as the team’s manager. Although he had the team manager position on his “bucket list” of things to do in aerobatics, he was pleased and surprised to get the call.

Mike brings considerable FAI and CIVA experience to the table, which our teams strongly need to be successful. They require an experienced advocate on the championships site who knows the rules as well as all the personnel involved. Mike has worked with all of the WAAC contest officials in the past and believes he can be very effective while in the Czech Republic. The championships will be held in Hosín (LKHS) on August 6-15, 2020.

From 1986 to 2012, Mike served as the President of the FAI Aerobatics Commission (CIVA) and as a Vice President of Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. He served as U.S. Delegate to CIVA from 1984 to 2018. Well versed as a president and member of international juries at 27 World Aerobatic Championships, World Advanced Championships, and FAI special events from 1986 through 2014, Mike has a firm grasp on the rules and all the organizational details that go into a world championship.

Mike’s goal as team manager will be to relieve as much of the workload and stress on the pilots as possible as they must be free to focus on training and competing. This is key to our teams winning the Gold in future championships, a goal he knows everyone shares and to bring credit to the United States and IAC.

Mike will be working closely with team captain Jeff Petrocelli, who will speak for the pilots in planning for the championships, and Rob Holland who has been selected by the team to be their team coach. Rob brings many years of training and competition experience to the team as nine-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion and a pilot on several teams. Training camps are planned this coming Spring in Union City, Tennessee prior to the team’s departure for Europe in late July.

The IAC Board of Directors has endorsed the Advanced Team’s choice of Mike Heuer as their team manager and fully support his efforts as team manager.

Site of the 14th FAI World Advanced Aerobatic Championships Named

November 8-9, 2019 Duxford Imperial War Museum, Cambridge

At the 2019 CIVA Plenary Conference the site of the 14th FAI World Advanced Aerobatic Championships was named. The championships will take place in Hosín (LKHS), in the Bohemian region the the Czech Republic. Practice days will be from the first through the fifth of August. Contest days will begin on the sixth of August and end on the fifteenth.

The event will stage out of the Aeroclub Czech Republic. Hosín airport began in the first half of the 1950's. In a relatively short period of time, an aviation area was established, which became the largest in the South Bohemian region. In 1952, an aeroclub hangar was established and in July 1953 the sail plane operation was started. The airport has an annual international glider camp and regular skydiving operations. In 1982, the skydiving contingent, Paraklub Aeroclub České Budějovice, of the aeroclub set a world record for a group night jump from 2000 m.

2020 U.S. Advanced Aerobatic Team chosen at the U.S. National Aerobatic Championships

Congratulations to the 2020 U.S. Advanced Aerobatic Team members;

Jeff Pettrocelli (Team Captain), Matt Dunfee, Adam Messenheimer, Marty Flournoy, Angelo Cillaroto, John Wacker, Klayton Kirkland, and Don Hartmann.

Follow the team on their FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/usaadvancedaerobaticteam/

Team members will compete at the 14th World Advanced Aerobatic Championship. Site to be announced.

2018 USA Advanced Team Brings Home Silver!

The WAAC is complete. The USA has done very well. Individual medals were received in all Unknowns with Aaron McCarton taking Gold in Unknown 2, and Matt Dunfee taking Bronze in Unknown 1 and 3. Overall, two members finished in the top 10 and as a Team they received the Silver!

Congratulations to the team; Aaron, Mike, AJ, Matt, John, Marty, Stan and their coach, Nick.

Another USA Medalist!

August 22 - US Advanced Team is doing very well at the WAAC in Romania right now, along with 50 other pilots from a total of 18 countries. The championship as now completed 3 of the 4 programmes with only the Free Unknown 3 remaining. Less than 2% separates the French Team at the top over the US Advanced Team. Congratulations to Aaron McCartan on his first place finish in Programme 3 - Free Unknown 2!

As usual the full results are at http://www.civa-results.com/2018/WAAC_18/indexpage.htm and there's a great facebook page for the event at https://www.facebook.com/WAAC2018/ that should bring you right up to date.

USA Medal in Romania

August 20, 2018 - At the World Advanced Aerobatic Championships underway in Romania, so far the Free Known and Free Unknown #1 have been completed and results are final. The good news -- the USA brought home its first medal with Matt Dunfee's outstanding performance in the Free Unknown. Matt came in third place flying an Extra 330SC N669AJ. Congratulations, team and Matt! Results can be found at www.civa-results.com.

Big Update #3!

August 19, 2018 - It’s been hectic but we are in flying day #4 of the contest. Still working on Program 2, the First Unknown. Yesterday we had a small weather event which ceased flying and had only allowed the first 19 pilots to fly the Unknown.

Once the weather rolled in, many congregated at the Briefing building and we held an International Foosball Championship event. Fair warning - Husam (UAE) is intense. While playing both French and Romanians, he managed to move the table several feet during the match! Now to get ESPN to recognize this event...

Last night was a planned special event where we eat, drink and dance as Romanians! The organizers brought in a dance troupe and vocalist that presented traditional cultural dances. They then pulled several people from audience to join (including yours truly).

SEE VIDEO HERE

Something oddly fun about making a fool out of yourself on a dance floor with around a hundred of your new friends! It was a truly enchanting experience!

Anyways, as I write this, Michael and Matt have yet to fly. They are up shortly. Please feel free to follow the results at: www.civa-results.com under the 13th WAAC (third link from top of page. With flights so far, USA has collectively moved up in the Team overall. We just keep the momentum going!

Day 1 - now we wait

August 16, 2018 - Contest Day #1! USA has pilots flying Free Known in the following slots:

6 - Stan Moye

14 - Marty Flournoy

33 - Michael Lents

38 - Johnny Wacker

39 - AJ Wilder

48 - Aaron McCartan

51 - Matt Dunfee

Realistically in Day 1 we may get between 25-30 pilots flown. Hopefully we hit our stride and move a bit quicker on Day 2 and moving forward. The goal is four per hour once in we ‘find our cadence’.

Now we play the waiting game!

Off to Training Camp

May 2, 2018 - Aaron McCartan leading the charge as Mike Lents forms up in the PANZL S-330. Enroute to training, stay tuned...

2018 U.S. Advanced Team Successful Regional Contest Showing

April 2018 - The International Aerobatic Club chooses a U.S. Advanced team in odd years and a U.S. Unlimited team in even years during the U.S. Nationals Aerobatic Championships. This year’s U.S. Advanced Team was chosen at the the 2017 Nationals, held in Oshkosh and has been training for the World Advanced Aerobatic Championship to be held in Ploiesti Romania, August 15-25^th, 2018. As part of their training they recently attended the IAC Sanctioned contest, the Snowbird Classic, in Dunnellon, Florida, where team members all placed in the top spots. Team Manager, Mark Fullerton of Georgia, Team members A.J. Wilder of California and John Wacker of Alabama, took the top three places out of a field of 11 competitors. The team will be participating in the upcoming Bear Creek Bash to be held in Rome, Georgia, June 8-9, 2018.

Advanced Training - Dunnellon, FL/Santa Paula, CA

January 26-28, Feburary 16-18, February 23-24, March 2-4

The Advanced Team has set a training schedule to get them ready in the quest for gold. Alternating between Dunnellon, Florida and Santa Paula, CA, as of March 5th the team had experience 4 training camps in Florida and two in California.

U.S. Advanced Aerobatic Team Manager Selected

February 5, 2018

Mark Fullerton of Calhoun, Georgia has been selected by the U.S. Advanced Aerobatic Team pilots to serve as their team manager as they prepare for and participate in the 13th FAI World Advanced Aerobatic Championships. The competition will be held at Strejnic Airfield (LRPW) in Ploiesti, Romania. Dates for the championships are 16-26 August 2018.

Mark brings a wide variety of skills and experience to the task. An accomplished Advanced category pilot, he has flown in 33 contests in the last ten years and most recently in a Panzl S-330 N330PG. He flew as a team pilot at the WAAC in 2014 in Slovakia and in 2016 in Poland. He qualified as an alternate pilot to the team at the U.S. National Aerobatic Championships in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in September 2017. His full-time job is in the textile industry which requires international travel on a monthly basis. He is skilled in international shipping as well which is crucial to the team bringing their aircraft to Europe in containers.

First entering Sportsman category in 2008 in a Citabria, he moved up to through the categories in recent years subsequently flying a Laser 230 and finally the Panzl. His eventual goal is to move up to Unlimited in the Panzl.

Mark is also past President of IAC Chapter 3 in the Atlanta area and current President of EAA Chapter 709 in Rome, Georgia.

Congratulations and thanks to Mark for taking on this task. His appointment as team manager will be formally approved at the IAC Board of Directors meeting in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on 17 March 2018.

Doug Sowder Appointed Judge for WAAC

Februrary 8, 2018

The FAI Aerobatics Commission (CIVA) has just announced the panel of judges for all of the FAI Aerobatic Championships to be held in 2018. Former IAC President Doug Sowder (IAC #14590) of Spokane, Washington has been appointed to serve as a judge for the FAI World Advanced Aerobatic Championships to be held in Romania in August 2018.

In addition to being an accomplished judge, who is typically found to be judging at regional contests across the country in addition to the Unlimited category at U.S. Nationals, Doug is one of IAC’s most active competition pilots. He has flown in Advanced category at 50 contests since 2006. In recent years, his aircraft has been an Extra 300L N25AP.

In addition to IAC contests, Doug was also a U.S. team pilot at the 2004 and 2010 FAI World Championships in Sweden and Poland flying a Pitts S-2B and Extra 300L, respectively. He has served in other contest positions as well including the wind measuring official at the 2013 FAI World Aerobatic Championships in Denison, Texas. He is truly a man of many talents and skills.

He will join 8 other FAI international judges on the line who will be supervised by Chief Judge John Gaillard of South Africa. The USA will be sending a full 8 pilot team to Romania and updates will be posted here as preparation and the competition begin and are underway.