Smoking Hot

To add to my list "first time for everything", we had to stop the contest one of the days because of fire. Some local farmers had been burning their fields (Not leagal, but commonly accepted procedure here to get the soil better), and it got a bit out of hands.
Anyway, few photos from these 2 weeks here...

Morning briefing with Live Demo. CD explaining the ground procedures.

The twelve o'clock sheep that pass the judging line regularily. Exept one day. Then they were there at 1 o'clock.

Judges briefing, as you can see, weather is really hot. And humid...

Another one from the judging line

Opening ceremonies, march throug the city

some of the judges ready for marching

Must say, the local way of electricity is.... not something I am used to

apparently I have changed country. I got the right one too afterwards, saying *CIVA* instead of Sweden. But then again, PIK as President of Jury was Swiss, which in Neutral. That means, I must be Nato. And the  third one is Hungary. Or Hungry.... (Actually, Tamas had a batch with CIVA in the beginning, but it said "Principal Jury" instead of just Jury.... :D )

There are nice plum trees in the back of the judging line. Yummy! :)

One of the days, it was so smoking hot, there was a fire. We had to evacuate the corner judge from his position and stop flying untill the fire brigade got the fire under control.

the ATC tried to draw the box for us in the sky.... :D

Member Abraniy had a birthday, so of course there was a cake. And I think we managed to surprice him with that :D

One of the jury duties was to observe the line judges at work. Must say, that is HOT place to be, in the crop circles. VERY hot...

We also had a Romanian night on wednesday, where some history was present. I thought at first that they released the Game of Thrones....

This pretty much sums up the 2 weeks here ;)

First time for everything. Or at least to many things....

First contest of the season for me outside Finland. This year I will attend all the World and European championships in Aerobatics. First EAAC in Deva, Romania. Then WAGAC/WGAC in Zbraslavice, Czech Republic and finally WAC in Chateauroux, France. CIVA will still organize the World Air Games in Dubai at the end of this year, but participation to this I have no idea...

It is also my first time as a jury memeber. In the last plenary meeting in Wroclaw, Poland I was nominated and then voted to the Jury of EAAC. I must say, that was a big surprise for me. That is why I am in Romania. First time, by the way.

For the WGAC I'll be a scoring judge. First time of that too. I also take my daughter there for the first time, will be her first World Championships too. I'll have an assistant from Czech, and we have been working together also before so that should work fine. At the same time I am extremely anxious to get to glider contest and at the same freaking out. I'm sure I'll do ok, but the thought of judging the worlds best aerobatic pilots the first time... Honestly that is scary.

For the WAC there is no such "first time" actually. I'll be assisting Kimmo again, that's my second Unlimited contest. First in France tho.... :)

Season start 2015

It's been a while since I wrote anything here. Seems that after the last contest of the season, you are so exhausted, that you just want to sleep... sleep... sleep...

After the contest in Slovakia last August, it has indeed been a bit quiet. Of course we had the plenary meeting in Wroclaw, Poland at the beginning of November. I continue working with the bureau as the secretary, but I was also nominated - and elected - as jury member for becoming years Europeans in Romania. There were many nominees and I must say I am honored - and really surprised - of being selected.

Kimmo, the judge I have been working with got selected to WAC in France, so I'll be going there too as an assistant. And after one phone call, I was convinced to apply to Glider Aerobatic Championships - as a judge. I got selected there as "new judge" on the second round and it will be interesting to work as a judge myself - in the World Championships.Will be my first time... I will be working with Katka from Czech and I am even taking my daughter with me - she can work as a runner on a judging line. So, it is going to be one crazy summer again.

Our own season starts officially next weekend when we have the traditional spring camp under Ascension-weekend. That means a long weekend with airplanes and friends. Unfortunately I can join them only on saturday and sunday since I'm working the first part of the weekend. Then we have summercamp on mid-June and our nationals on the first weekend of July.

Will be busy summer - see you all at airfields!

Photo post

It was such a normal contest, almost too normal. Some days we had perfect flying day - the next we were hiding from the rain - waiting for the clouds to raise. One of the days we experienced all of the four seasons!

Despite of the weather, we managed to pull 3,5 rounds, meaning all the pilots flew the known, free and 1st unknowns and half of the pilots flew the 2nd unknowns. And again, at the end, we listened the French anthem 6 times. Man those guys are good!

The closing ceremonies were nice, with good food, good friends, lot of laughs, a magician and fireworks. And a band of course. Had such good time!

And some photos from the event!

Lazlo, the South African judge had a birthday during the contest. Judges choir sung "happy birthday" and got some flowers to him!

I just love this plane in the hangar!

The text on the US advanced team plane :D

A lot of new extras in the game

view from the hangar

Fridays dessert after lunch!

Yet another view from the judging line. I have to say, I like the skyline!

There are a lot of mice at the field where we sit and judge. This will probably try to smuggle itself to go home with Guy and Jean-Claude, the French judges, since they have been feeding it so much cheese and bread!

Contest planes waiting eagerly to get out!

I think this was some kind of museum in Trencin. Lovely building anyway!

Yet another view of Trencin

Had a pizza in the restaurant on the backround when this guy was trying to get out of the well....

Trencin castle, the picture does not any good to it.... 

Waiting... and some more waiting.... 

But at least the coke told me I am not alone.... :D

warm up pilot and box flight... Appealing location, isn't it :D

And the location required proper shoes for some of the days.... 

At the end of the rainbow, there's a pot of gold...?

But what's at the beginning of a rainbow?

Overall view over the airfield, they have a small collection of museum aircrafts also... 

a panorama view from the balcony!

 Quite lonely job.... 

Pear tree right at the airfield, actually at the play ground. Very convenient. And delicious ;)

Walnut tree at the gate. Feels like home when you see this after 3 times at this airfield..

Our hotel had nice set of history under the hotel. And well presented!

Lobby from the panorama elevator

Behind the hotel and right under the castle of Trencin was quite nice terrace. 

Pool at the hotel. Which I didn't have time to visit... 

At the hotel parking. Graved to the mountain. 

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.