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Australia

Australia is covering all bets at WAC XVIII, sending three men and a lady to compete with an Extra 300, a CAP 232, a Sukhoi Su-29 and an S-1 Pitts. Among them are three former Australian National Aerobatic Champions, including 1994/1995 National Champion Bonnie Palmer from Darwin, four-time (1989-92) National Champion Malcolm Beard, an Ag pilot from Gatton, Queensland, and 1993 National Champion Steven Hart, an accountant from Brisbane, who is flying the latest Mudry CAP232.

Belgium

Belgium will apparently be represented by Brono Van Waeyenbegqhe. Details of the Belgian team are not available at this time.

Brazil

Brazil is sending a four man team, all using the Sukhoi Su-26M. Leading the Brazilian team is Rodolpho Silveira Penteado, three time former Brazilian National Aerobatic Champion.

Great Britain

The British have announced their four man, two woman team and plans to participate in WAC XVIII. For the opening parade, the team are rumoured to be engaging the services of a Bulldog to act as team mascot and are determined to display their Battling British Spirit from the outset. The British have sadly lost team member Len Perry to a recent training accident in Moscow. Details on the Hot news page.

Canada

Canada is sending a three man, one woman team, flying the Extra 300, the new Pitts S-1-11-B, and the first WAC appearance of Dan Rihn's DR-107 One Design monoplane. The Canadian contengent includes 8 time Canadian National Champion Gerry Younger from Guilph, Ontario, first ever Canadian female WAC competitor Patricia Cruchley from Caimbridge, Ontario, and 3 time Canadian National Champion Lloyd Beaule from Calgary, Alberta.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic, a country with a long and impressive record in world competition aerobatics, is fielding a full 5 member Men's team. Surprisingly, they are all flying the German Extra 300S, an unusual circumstance since the Cezchoslovokian Zlin aircraft have traditionally been among the best in the world. The latest Zlin 50, however is somewhat dated. The Czech Republic team features 1995 Czech National Champion Petr Biskup, from Praha and 1994 Czech National Champion Martin Stahalik, from Ceske Rudejovice.

Denmark

Denmark will be represented by 6 time Danish National Aerobatic Champion Lennart E. Wahl, from Copenhagen, who will be flying the Giles G200 monoplane in its first WAC competition appearance.

Finland

Finland will be represented by Petteri Tarma, an airline pilot from Helsinki, who will also be flying the Giles G200. Tarma's highest standing thus far in international competition was a 3rd place finish in the 1992 Nordic Championships.

France Voltige

France is definitely the dominate force in aerobatics today. They currently hold the Individual Men's World Championship, the Aresti Cup, the Men's Team Championship, the Nesterov Cup, and have been on a roll for the decade to date, having won in 1990 and 1994. The 1992 WAC was called on account of weather, but they were ahead when it was. However, the current Men's Champion is not returning, opening up the competition for that spot, and the Avions Mudry factory (which produces the CAP 231) suffered a fire earlier this year and a pair of valuable airplanes were lost. How that will affect France Voltige is not clear, but anyone who wins at this WAC, in any category, is going to have to fly better than these folks. They have a great training program and lots of talent to choose from, so France Voltige will be the team to beat. Dominique ROLAND has passed along the latest info, available on the France Voltige page.

Germany

Germany is sending a 4 man, one woman team, all flying variants of the Extra 300. Leading the Germany team is Lufthansa captain Klaus Schrodt, current German National Aerobatic Champion.

Hungary

The Hungarian Team is apparently not a big factor, but there are several individuals capable of taking the World's Individual Men's title. The Hungarian Men's team took 3rd at Debrecen in 1994, putting the United States Men's team out of the medals. Details of the Hungarian team are not available at this time.

Israel

Israel will be represented by Edan Shalev, an Aerobatic Flight Instructor flying the Giles G200 monoplane.

Italy

The Italians are nothing if not determined to have a presence at WAC XVIII. First there was a major policial turmoil to overcome, then Sergio Dallan, their number one pilot, strained a foot in an unrelated training accident, and will be unable to fly. But they will be here. Fly High, Italia!

Japan

Japan has entered a four man team in WAC XVIII, flying the Extra 300 and Pitts S-2B in its first ever appearance in World Aerobatic Competition. Details on the Hot news page.

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is another country represented by just one pilot, in this case Sergei Boriak. The size of the team may be a bit misleading, however. Boriak, now living and teaching aerobatics in North Carolina, was the 1984 Soviet National Aerobatic Champion, a member of the first place 1986 Soviet Men's Team at WAC XIII in England, and the 1994 first place finisher at the German Nationals. Once a master of the Sukhoi, Boriak is now flying the Extra 300S and, along with current World Champion Xavier de Lapparent, was one of a select few world class pilots selected to train the U.S. Team this year. Boriak--needless to say -- is a contender for the Aresti Cup at WAC XVIII.

Lithuania

Lithuania is yet another country represented by just one pilot, in this case Jurgis Kairys, from Vilnius. Kairys is a well respected competitor and former Soviet team member flying the latest model Sukhoi Su-31. Along with a string of credentials including the current Lithuanian National Championship, second place in the 1989 European Championships and a string of firsts and seconds in WAC flights, Kariys is current holder of the Manfred Strossenreuther Trophy Trophy for his first place finish in the 4 Minute in Hungary in 1994. He will also be a contender for the Aresti Cup at WAC XVIII.

Russia

It is never easy to out-dance the Bear at the WAC. The Russians have enjoyed government support of their program since the start of the WAC. First the Yak 18P, then the Yak18PM in 1966, then the Yak 50 in 76, the last two of which swept the WAC at which they were introduced. Then in 1984 the Sukhoi 26 made its first appearence. The Sukoi has taken longer to develop than the Yaks, but it has developed very well. The latest model 31 is state of the art, and the Russians fly them with gusto. Sergei Krikalev has passed along the latest info, available on the Team Russia page.

Solvakia

Solvakia will apparently be represented by Pavol Kavka. Details of the Solvakian team are not available at this time.

South Africa

South Africa is entering a three member Men's team, the mimimum needed to contend for the Nesterov Cup, consisting entirely of former South African National Aerobatic Champions. Charles Peter Celliers, of Roodewal Farm, is a well known international aerobatic competitor and 7 time former South African National Champion who is flying an Extra 300L at WAC XVIII. Stewart Davidson, from Port Elizabeth, is the current National Champion and is flying a Sukhoi Su-26. Zane Pearcek, based in Durban, was the 1995 National Champion flying a Sukhoi SU-26MX.

Spain

Spain is represented by Ramon Alonso Pardo, from Madrid. Pardo, an airline captain, has been the Spanish National Aerobatic Champion from 1987 to 1996, and a member of the Spanish Aerobatic Team at each WAC since 1986.

Sweden

Sweden is represented by current Swedish National Aerobatic Champion Harry Moheim, flying an Extra 300L.

Switzerland

Switzerland announced a four-man team. The team has run into problems obtaining aircraft to fly, however, so the exact composition of the Swiss team is not clear. Details will be posted here as soon as they are known.

Ukraine

Ukraine is a serious dark horse contender, with a four man, two woman team flying the Su-26 and one Yak-55. The Sukhoi Su-26 is not as current as the Su-31, but there have been problems with the 31, and the 26 can still turn in an impressive sequence in the right hands. The Ukraine has them, as every member of the team is a former national champion. The Men's team includes Sergey Prolagayev, (1995), Victor Gorbachendo, (1991), Nikolay Tarasevich, (1993) and Azat Zaidoullin, (1994 ), all flying the Su-26. The Women's team includes Tamara Dovgalenko, 1994 Ukraine Women's Champion, flying a Sukhoi Su-26 and Larisa Vorobiova, 1992 Ukraine Women's Champion, flying a Yak 55.

USA

The United States Aerobatic Team has dramatically revised its training program in response to the fourth place finish in Hungary in 1994 and the happy circumstance that--since for once the contest is over here and they don't have to spend the money and time redeploying the team just to get to the contest--they can train. They are talented, well trained, well equipped, and very highly motivated by the unique opportunity to focus on flying for the international judges eye. And they have taken the time to find out what those eyes want to see. The Women's team has 21 WAC Appearances between them, more than three times as many as the men, so the race for the FAI Challenge Cup is the one to watch. Watch it, and you may even end up seeing who wins the Aresti Cup.

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