US Unlimited Aerobatic Team

Mark Stewart wins Softie Raffle

Michael Steveson — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:17:37 +0000

Congratulations! Mark and Martha Stewart were the winners of the Softie Parachute Raffle.

Mark is an IAC member and an Advanced competitor and based in Ocala, FL

They in turn donated the parachute back to the USA Advanced Aerobatic Team. The USA Advanced Aerobatic Team has offered it for sale on ebay.

Thanks to everyone who donated and purchased a raffle ticket, the USA Unlimited Team could not have done so well without your support.

Closing Ceremony

Ellyn D — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:18:52 +0000

Well, WAC is over and Team USA walked away with the Bronze Medal! Woo Hoo! Go Team! Rob Holland won the Gold Medal for his brilliant 4 minute freestyle! Congratulations!!

The Closing Ceremony was unbelievable! This event has been well organized from the beginning to the end and we were all impressed daily by how seamless this competition moved along.

It was sad to say goodbye to all the wonderful people we have met and spent time with over these last few weeks and wish them all a safe and comfortable flight back to their friends and family.

Thank all of you so much for your support and for following the U.S. Team through the posts on the U.S Unlimited Aerobatic website as well as emails and facebook. Look for additional pictures, comments and videos coming soon!

Fly Safe!! E

Second Unknown

Ellyn D — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 11:45:32 +0000

This is it! The Second Unknown. Michael Vaknin has already flown and the rest of our team will fly this afternoon.

Michael Racy, at number 13 is our first Team member flying. Jeff is up next at number 15 followed by Goody, 25 and then at number 28, Rob Holland. Michael Racy will be flying the Russian Program and the remaining teammates have chosen the U.S. Unknown Program.

Click here to view the actual Sequences.

It is lunch time and the guys have been doing various things to prepare themselves for this next and final flight which will begin approximately 30 minutes from now.

Good Luck U.S. TEAM!!!!!

Day 7

Ellyn D — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:04:05 +0000

Program 2 – Unknown is finished and the tension eased a bit…but only for a minute. The pilots will now begin working on Program 3 – Unknown.

Yesterday ended with our friends on the Spanish Team graciously providing an excellent Hanger Party. Alex and Javier served us delicious Paella, various meats and homemade Sangria! This was perfect timing because everyone was ready for relaxing and socializing.

Michael Racy made reservations for us and the comical South African Team at a wonderful place which was somewhat difficult to find for these pilots who are apparently navigationally challenged while on the ground. It was hysterical.

WELCOLM Jeff Boerboon’s family! They arrived safe and sound and we all helped celebrate Maria Boerboons’s Birthday at dinner last night. It was a fun time.

Today was a “study day” for the second Unknown and although there was no flying..it was not a ”free” day either. Sergey and Michael S. had the Team at the airport this morning and a meeting this evening. Everyone is looking forward to flying again tomorrow! Go Team!!

WAC 2011 – Day 6 – End of First Unknown

Ellyn D — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:19:34 +0000

What an intense day! The contest was eerily quiet while pilots worked on their sequences or watched their competitors fly. Goody was first up for our Team and he remained calm and extremely focused.

Rob was next. Although Rob is predictably calm and cool.. he was more reserved while he prepared for this important flight.

It is now 2pm and both Goody and Rob have flown as well as the last pilot for the first Unknown. The contest has stopped for lunch and the scores are being posted. More later. GO TEAM!

WAC 2011 – Day 5 Evening

Ellyn D — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 22:11:52 +0000

The day is done but not the Unknowns so we will begin again tomorrow. It was a great day and Michael Racy had a beautiful time slot to fly in. The sun was just beginning to go down and the weather was cool and nice. Everyone here is very social and friendly and the contest continues to run smoothly. Dinner at the hotel is pretty standard but there is always a nice selection and the food is very good. Rob brought his own pizza to dinner with him tonight which was comical but no one at the restaurant objected. I think the language barrier would have created an exhausing attempt at it so they just let him have his pizza.

Patrick Carter left us today to head back home to rejoin his family. All of the U.S. Team thanks him for his support and it was great having him with us. He was a big help to us here and wish him a safe and comfortable trip back home. He is missed already!

We are all looking forward to Goody and Rob’s flights tomorrow and then we begin again with the second Unknown. Happy Labor Day and more updates soon!

Vaknin Gets to Fly!

Ellyn D — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:35:22 +0000

Finally..on his 5th time strapping in…Vaknin finally was able to fly his Unknown and flew a great flight! We are looking forward to seeing how he scored! Go Vaknin!

Day 5 – Program 2 – Unknown (Continued)

Ellyn D — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 11:02:41 +0000

Good morning! It is a cooler day giving a nice reprieve from the heat we have been having. Michael Vaknin finally was able to fly but asked to return due to video issues. How difficult for a pilot to have mentally prepared and reached that point of flying the sequence then asked to return. Unfortunately that is the nature of the beast at all contests sometimes. All is well now and he has returned to his plane and preparing to go at it again.

Just in..Judges are breaking for lunch and Michael Vaknin will now unstrap and fly after lunch. Unbelieveable! He is still in great spirits so all is well. We will just wait. Updates later!!

A video to enjoy!

Ellyn D — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:09:46 +0000

This is a very nice video of WAC and our U.S. Team. Click Here please

Update to Day 4 – Program 2 – Unknown

Ellyn D — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 15:38:40 +0000

The weather shut us down for the day but we are hoping to see blue skies tomorrow. The Team Members are all in great spirits. They do not need to be at the airport until 10:30 so they have a bit of time to relax and work on their Unknowns. Michael Vaknin will be the second pilot to fly tomorrow..weather permitting.

The Internet continues to cause issues with my posts so I apologize for short sentences and lack of pictures. I will post some soon!!