Normally to be found pottering about Shawbury in the Tin Shed (a Platypus 4B)…..

…..club member Laura decided to challenge herself this year by entering her first aerobatics competition, The Saltby Open, held at Buckminster Gliding Club in Lincolnshire. The annual Saltby Open aerobatic competition took place 12-14 July and was open to all, from beginners to those with more advanced aerobatic skills.

Laura started her gliding journey a mere three and half years ago when, she said:

“I was, feeling grumpy and was dragged up to the Mynd by my partner, in an attempt to get me out of the dumps.”

She was hooked from the first flight. Luckily, she had an aerobatic instructor, and it was not long before she decided she wanted to learn aerobatics; the aspiration of someday competing was now in her dreams.

Until this time, Laura had never flown or been interested in flying, she thought it was so far out of her potential and not something the average female could do. Laura said:

“How wrong could I have been, in fact flying it is open to all and everyone is super friendly anyway, they say girls are better than the guys!”

Practice Makes Perfect

Laura has spent the last few years honing her aerobatics skills and, of course, practicing the various routines as often as possible. It was during the process she established that Ian Gallacher, the CFI of the nearby RAF Shawbury Gliding Club (RSGC) was the BGA aerobatics coach.

Although she started at the Mynd on the winch with her aerobatics training, Laura moved to aerotow and has said that having the opportunity to join RSGC and the support she has had there, has accelerated and fine-tuned her training to get her to the point she is at now. Being initially coached by Mark Butcher (a Myndie) and then by Gally, she started in the clubs K21 going from loops, chandelles and turns, up to stall turns, quarter clovers and inverted flying (not as scary as one might think)

Laura was aiming to enter a competition before The Saltby Open, the annual Dan Smith Trophy, a glider aerobatics competition at national standard held at Dunstable. This is normally held in the Spring, but it was postponed to September. In a way Laura felt that this was to her advantage as she felt she was not quite ready for the Dan Smith that starts at a higher level of skill.

In the build up to the Saltby Open comp Laura said that she had been consumed by aerobatics from drawing out airfields in her living room, pulling strange looking 80's dance moves, to drawing lines on paper. Laura then moved on to ground briefings and ground rehearsals at Shawbury much of which we saw.

Laura says that her aerobatics journey thus far has been a mixture of good days and bad days (feeling like she had forgotten how to fly) but has loved every minute of it and can't wait to see what the future brings.

Less than a week before the comp, nerves kicked in and the drive to do well and enjoy it were flying high. Laura had entered the Club Class, which serves as a starter for those getting into aerobatic competition for the first time and that gives a pilot a good experience of what it's all about. She spent the last few days getting that last minute practise in, and yes, still had an airfield drawn in her living room.

The Competition

The first day started slowly, cloud base was low and so briefing was pushed back to 1245. Just as the sun started to shine briefing started but cloud base was still fairly low so split sequences were commenced for the Sports Class. (the class above Club)

Although nerves were rising and the adrenaline pumping, Laura had walked her sequence many times and felt ready to go.

Laura was up second to last to launch. Unfortunately, the weather changed and the Club Class and Intermediate Class (class above Sports) were postponed to the next day. However, the day wasn't wasted as she had the opportunity to be a scribe (writing down the judges scores while they observe) for one of the judges and this enabled her to watch the sports class and learn some last-minute hints and tips of what the judges are looking for in a good routine.

Next day the cloud base was still playing games and the flying order had changed. Laura was now up first, and this was when the nerves really kicked in and it was time for her to walk the sequence again.

After a long wait for cloud base to rise Laura, coiled like a spring, was ready to go. It had been decided that the Club Class pilots had to take a safety pilot as cloud base was below the required 3,400ft but still a safe margin at 2,800ft.

Laura completed her flight within 800ft and said that she was happy with how it went. that is apart from the loop - perfectionism is a curse!

At the end of the second day Laura was given her score and was in the lead in the Club Class with a score of 81.38%.

The contingency weather day was now needed and then started another long wait for cloud base to rise. Laura launched at 16.30 feeling good about the second sequence.

Reaching 2,500 ft on tow, the cunim cloud drifted into the aerobatic box, an imaginary 1k by 1k box in which the sequence takes place. A go-around while on tow is permitted but unfortunately the cloud wasn’t going anywhere. So it was decided that the competition would come to a close as cloud base had dropped and all three classes had at least completed their first sequences, so a competition was in hand. The competition ended with prize giving and a big well done to Laura on winning the BAeA Club Class plaque.

Laura is our club female ambassador and wasn't the only lady participant. Merlin who was competing in the Sports Class, only her second competition, did awesomely well to score 67.4% and win second place. Out of the nine pilots that entered two were women, and they hope to grow the number of pilots entering the competition.

What Next for Laura?

Laura qualified as Basic Instructor with RSGC and is in training for the Assistant Instructor qualification whilst also continuing to progress her aerobatics. Laura said’

“I have learnt so much. Even if you just want to have some fun doing it, sharpen your flying skills or go all the way to competitions, aerobatics can fulfil that next step.”

No matter what age you are, what experience you may or may not have (Laura had none) why not come and join us at RAF Shawbury, It could be just the challenge you never knew you needed or wanted.

Next week Laura starts practice for the Dan Smith!