Midwest Aviators Compete for Honors at 41st Annual Salem Aerobatic Contest, Part 2 : Competition

By Carmelo Turdo

Aviators from around the Midwest gathered at the 41st Annual Salem Aerobatic Contest last weekend at Salem-Leckrone Field in central Illinois. The Mid-West Region event is sponsored by Chapter 61 of the International Aerobatic Club (IAC), a division of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), headquartered in Oshkosh, WI. Possibly the longest-running competition of its kind, the Salem Aerobatic Contest provides an opportunity for member pilots to demonstrate their flying skills for objective evaluation by their peers, at times leading to advancement within the skill levels. The Aero Experience was privileged to be on site Friday and Sunday, visiting with the participants and the airport community who made this year's contest a great success. In Part 2 of this series, we will feature more of the participants as they compete for regional honors.

Sunday morning brought clearing skies and the promise of a great day of aerobatic flying after a weekend of cloud and drizzle.  The planes were moved from the hangar to the apron as 7:30am approached, and shortly thereafter came the morning briefing and posting of the judges. 

Here are the participants as they flew their sequences:

Giles Henderson - First Place Primary Category In Clipped Wing Piper Cub

Tim Volk - Second Place Primary Category In 7ECA Citabria

Bob Hamilton - First Place Sportsman Category In Pitts S-1C

Tom O'Neil - Third Place Sportsman Category In Myers Cassutt

Matthew Wild - First Place Intermediate Category; Mitchell Wild - First Place Advanced Category in Extra 300

Brent Smith - Second Place Intermediate Category In Pitts S-1S

Basile Sanchez-Santacruz - Third Place Intermediate Category In Pitts S-2B

Joe Overman - Fourth Place Intermediate Category In Pitts S-2A

Klaus Mueller - Second Place Advanced Category In Yak-55M

David Scott - Third Place Advanced Category In Pitts S-1S

Bruce Ballew - Fourth Place Advanced Category In Pitts S-2B

John Housley - Fifth Place Advanced Category in Aviat Pitts S-2B

Following the flying activities, the winners were recognized with awards given in the airport lobby:

 

 

 

 

 






  















The Aero Experience thanks Salem-Leckrone Field management, IAC Chapter 61, Contest Director Joe Overman, the participating pilots and all who worked on this year's competition for their hospitality!