Club Flying Competitions

Royal Victorian Aero Club monthly competitions are run for the benefit of Club Flying Members. During the course of the year we hold a series of nine events, in which pilots compete as a personal challenge and as part of a team. This is an excellent way of enhancing flying skills, to maintain currency and to get to know other members enjoying the same challenges!

The dates ear-marked for this year are;

2012 Competition Dates

Sunday 5th February - Cancelled due to WX

Sunday 4th March - Accurate Flying LHS

Sunday 1st April - Instrument Flying

Sunday 6th May - Accurate Slow Flying

Sunday 3rd June - Balloon Bursting

Sunday 1st July - Medley

Sunday 5th August - Hands Off Column Flying

Sunday 9th September - Streamer Cutting

Sunday 7th October - Flour Bombing

Note - Competition type is subject to change before or on the day

Competitions also provide a means by which you can regularly keep up with the latest procedures and not let those expensive lessons go to waste. All competitions are based on normal flying skills acquired during training. There is no flying under bridges or aerobatic flying involved!

Most competitions are of 30-40 minutes duration. Competitors fly with an Air Judge for scoring purposes.

Participants are members of one of four flights. Flights compete against each other and at the end of the year, the winning flight receives a trophy at the "All Flights Dinner Dance". Individual competitors who have top scores in a competition also receive a trophy.

The heart of the clubs activities is the Flight System through which flying and social events are organised, such as short and long fly-aways, inter club competitions, BBQ's, parties and so on. The friends you make are those with whom you share experiences.

There are two flights - Black/Blue Flight and Blue Red/White

Here are brief details of some current competitions:

Accurate Circuits Left Hand Seat (LHS)

Usually the first compeittion of the year as we also provide a free instructor for your 90 day check if you require. This is a great competition to review the Moorabbin procedures, practice circuits and radio calls.

Instrument Flying

Carry out a downwind, base and final under the hood. Do a go around and level off. This is done away from the airport at a safe altitude.

Balloon Bursting

This is a challenge with a difference! A 1100 feet, zoom in on a Met balloon (75cm diameter), released from a country airfield and try and burst it with the propeller. It calls for great skill and accuracy. A fun competition.

Flour Bombing

Drop a 1 kilogram bag of flour on a target from 250 feet. this is done at a country airfield and requires great skill and a lot of luck.

Spot Landing

Usually incorporated in other competitions, this comp perfects your short field technique.

Accurate Slow Flying

A test of skills in accurate air speed, altitude and heading control. The comp. involves climbing, steep turns, gliding turns and incipient stalling. Circuit and landing accuracy is important, as is general airmanship.

We hope the above whets your appetite for some useful flying fun. There is no doubt that most pilots who fly the competitions regularly stay current, have higher skills and improved confidence ensuring better and safer pilots.