The number of aircraft visiting was down compared with previous years, but with most of them being flown by more than one pilot, there was no let up in the number of movements.
The Contest Director’s report is at
http://www.aerobatics.org.uk/results/20 ... esults.htm and perfectly sums up the day – and it also gives the results of the contest.
I’d like to add my own thanks to the Sandtoft staff for allowing we photographers unlimited access to the airfield, and for conjuring-up a mean full-English breakfast!
There were just two Pitts Specials at Sandtoft this year. Full Sutton-based G-ICAS is an Aviat-built S2B model, whereas G-MAXG was homebuilt and is an S1S version.
The number of Dan Rihn DR107s on the UK register is slowly creeping up and there were two examples being put their paces in the skies above Sandtoft, G-RIHN and G-IIID.
Two French-designed aircraft were also on show. G-BXRA is an Avion Mudry CAP10B and formerly served with the French Air Force. From the same stable is CAP231 G-IIHZ, a 1988-built example of the marque.
Keeping the British end up, so to speak, was Slingsby T67M Firefly G-BKTZ.
Making a brisk departure from, and slightly more sedate return to, runway 23 is Laser Lazer Z200 G-CBHR.
I’m not exactly sure how many horsepower the Lycoming AEIO engine under the cowling of G-IIIK produces, but the Extra 300 absolutely shot down the runway when the throttle was opened. I suspect that long nose doesn’t do much for the pilot’s view during the approach, either!
Another Extra model entered in the contest was E230 G-CBUA.
The final competing aircraft was a Zivko Edge 540, bearing the appropriate registration G-EDGY.
Away from the aerobatic aircraft, there were a couple of other aircraft I was pleased to capture in pixels.
N337UK is a retractable-gear, Reims-built example of Cessna’s quirky in-line twin, the 337 Skymaster. Slightly more conventional in design is the SOCATA TB10 Tobago and G-HELA was pounding the circuit in between the aerobatics.
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