Slavnica

All the known are flown, and now we have started the frees. 40 of them done by Sunday evening. This morning briefing pilots selected the figures for unknowns....  And now they are drawing the proposals.

So far ( with all my 5 year experience in World Championship) this is definately the best airport bar and best championship food!

Free programs about to start

Warm up flight, low/low-line, 100m, Y-axis... 

Early mornings.... 

At Slavnica airfield is probably the best playground ever!

View from the judging line, straight to the box... 

Our hotel Elizabeth is located in Trencin, right in front of the old castle which is up there somewhere. This is carved *or otherwise made* to the wall of the cliff! Quite cool!

The fountains under the stairway at the hotel!

3rd time is the charm, or how do you call it. 2011 EAAC. 2012 WGAC and now this. Same airfield!

Couple more planes at the museum they have here at Slavnica

and quite few Cessnas. View to the runway *and the other side where is the juding line for mornings. See the mountains behind? Well, neither did we the other day!

It was a bit foggy one morning, but flights begun eventually!

Hurry hurry, hurry, to wait, wait wait!

Yesterday we flew in to Vienna. Just by accident, we met the German judge Sabine at the same time in arrivals hall and after couple of hours of waiting, we met more and more judges. Together we waited about 7 hours for our ride and eventually, all 10 of us hopped in the bus and drove to the airfield for registrations.
After visiting airfield and meeting many old friends, we headed to the hotel, me, Kimmo, Irma and one Austrian pilot - just to find out, they don't have our reservation. After few phone calls we got to the next door hotel for that night and decided to sort rest of the things tomorrow - since it had been a really - really long day.

Had a quick bite to eat and headed to get some sleep. Thursday (today) we had breakfast in the morning, then got our luggage, walked to the hotel Elizabeth and left our luggage there for the evening. The rooms were said to be ready then. And the bus left to the airport.

So, judges briefing was the first thing - meanwhile the pilots had their opening briefing. We went through all the questions from the judges evaluation test and had a nice time with PIK, who is in the jury this time - but knows the software in and out. After briefings, we were taken to the judging line and we actually had the warm up flights and ONE pilot - and then the rain came! So, after lunch, we waited a couple of hours for transport and headed to the hotel.

Got to the room, and after some refreshing we had the opening ceremonies (nice and short, thanks CD) and a nice gala dinner. Me and Kimmo sat with South African judges and after CJ and his assistants joined us, we heard quite a lot of stories about South Africa, it's nature, politics, animals (including warthogs, elephants, hippos, snakes, lions, spiders etc) and now I just want to go the South Africa to see all the amazing elephants and lions and all!

Oh well, transport tomorrow 7.20, so better start sleeping.... Briefing at 08:00.

Our hotel is right under the castle of Trencin. Quite pretty during the night!

Panorama from the judging line. Not a very good quality, but this is what I got out of my samsung!

Opening ceremonies are about to start

And then to the gala dinner. 

WAAC 2014

It's time again. Bags are packed and I am sitting in a bus. It's past midnight. Flight leaves at 08:25 from Helsinki to Vienna and then a couple of hours drive to Slavnica airfield.

So, world advanced aerobatic championships 2014. All old and new friends. See you soon!

This is my all time favourite cartoon Chicken Wings by Michael and Stefan Strasser.