Wind, Sand and Stars

As aviation pioneers go, Antoine de Saint-Exupery is one of the more refined examples. Romantic, philosopher and adventurer, he was never short of excitement in his life. Gallic in his outlook, but international in his achievements. Always pushing, sometimes being pulled, but never without hope and expectation whatever the circumstances. What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well. Head to Sywell for the Senior Nationals with that outlook and surely you will return a better person. Eighteen pilots did this year and with a similar gaggle of line staff we set up camp under the stars, saddled the camels and launched into the barren box in which so many dreams and hopes have been fulfilled (or shattered). First up the Q programmes, solidly flown by the Unlimited Team working together to make sure that everyone put in a scoring flight. Of particular pleasure this year was the return of the Russian tractor SU-26 with Nick Onn in its seat, ploughing the furrows after a long container ride from the US, ready for WAC 2015. The aeroplane evokes memories of times past with Svetlana Kapanina gracing our contest and wowing the audience with her sparkling displays. Nick flew nicely too, but Gerry was slightly ahead after the first skirmish. Next up the Advanced field, also seeing some welcome returns to desert combat and promising to be hotly contested. After a frustrating day adjusting his 232 bicycle clips it was Mike Collett who topped the rankings in the Known, but with a gaggle of pretenders hot on his heels. Straight into the Free programmes and the judges were kept busy until beer time. A visiting troop of Air Scouts were hosted and signed up for Beginners in 2025. Well done, Brian, Paul and helpers.

Grown-ups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them. Tongue in cheek from Monsieur St.Ex maybe, but ever so apt for the role of an official at a BAeA competition. Trouble is that the grown-ups always seem to be asking the same old questions, arguing the same old points. Read the rule books ! It is part of the sport and part of being prepared for the pinnacle of our competition season. Of necessity, sometimes we have to compromise, sometimes we have to improvise and we can’t control the weather or condense a 10 day international format into 3 without a little bit of artistic licence. Ten minutes before the start of a programme isn’t the time to be picking up the sequence card asking how does that work, then? You are responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose. Next year’s Nationals are on the 9-12th June, 2016, same venue.

Day 2 of our adventure hails the arrival of the Wind. It’s ok though, because the Sandstorm that is Sywell’s scudding low cloud arrives at the same time, so we drink tea and wait. Eventually it all comes good and the P3 programmes shuffle the Advanced pack with the diminutive green 1D of Phil Burgess sitting at the top. Pickin Jr. and the Mad Polski Artur fence for the honour of being bridesmaid to the Unlimited Team Captain. P3 figures were Jury selected this year with some sequences pre-designed and approved. The benefits were minimal and the Unlimited sequence described as physiologically brutal, so back to the drawing board for that process. Later we retire to the Horseshoe Inn for a welcome contest dinner organised brilliantly by our long suffering Scorer, Jen, where Phil Massetti solemnly explains that ‘long line after….’, should really have been followed with ‘….all the way back to Little Gransden’. It’s a fun sport. The levity doesn’t lighten the breeze for Saturday though and the all-important Programme 4 is completed in gusty winds and with some valiant flying at both levels.

Eventually a cool head wins Phil Burgess the coveted Advanced Champion accolade, while Gerald retains the delightful Neil Williams trophy for another year. Both were kept exceedingly honest by some exceptional flights and tic-tac performances in the teeth of the gale. Well flown all. Of necessity we compromised the whizzy 4 minute programme and Advanced Masters with only the minimum entry for each and some tired and frustrated judging teams being asked to deliver the impossible. As ever our volunteer force facilitated the competition and their patience and endurance were soundly appreciated by all the pilots. We listen - changes will be made for the future.

A civilization is a heritage of beliefs, customs, and knowledge slowly accumulated in the course of centuries, elements difficult at times to justify by logic, but justifying themselves as paths when they lead somewhere, since they open up for man his inner distance. Such is our sport, such is the world of aviation and such is the spirit of adventure which many of our pilots display in their pursuit of success and enlightenment. Occasionally we lose friends in this process. If I paused for a moment in making the awards it was for a happy memory of handing David Jenkins the championship trophy in 2013 and it is to his memory this report is dedicated. It is in the compelling zest of high adventure and of victory, and in creative action, that man finds his supreme joys.