Origins - Development - Background - Aircraft
Ballet - Quest - Gender - Snap - Weather

by Carl Gadd

18th World Aerobatic Championships
Weather Factors for Competition

Weather Factor #1--Each of the pilots draws their own number in the Order of Flight. No one wants to fly #1 (often called the "wind dummy") because the judges are not "warmed up" and thought to score too harshly. Pilots late in the Order feel their scores will be influenced by weather, sun position and the fatigue of the Judges.

Weather Factor #2--Weather conditions are monitored continuously and can interrupt the competition until they subside. (Weather halted the 1992 WAC at Le Havre, France for days.)

WAC Weather Restrictions (Brief Form)

• The competition will be interrupted as long as the wind exceeds 12 meters per second which is equal to:
  • 39.37 feet per second
  • 26.84 U.S. Statute Miles per Hour
  • 23.62 Knots per Hour
  • 43.20 Kilometers per Hour

• The maximum headwind component at 500 meters (1640.4 feet) above the ground is 12 meters per second and equal to:
  • 39.37 feet per second
  • 26.84 U.S. Statute Miles per Hour
  • 23.62 Knots per Hour
  • 43.20 Kilometers per Hour

• Maximum crosswind component in relation to the main axis is 6 meters (19.6 feet) per second (11.8 knots per hour) at the surface and 8 meters (26.25 feet) per second (15.8 knots per hour) at 500 meters.

• Minimum visibility of 5 Kilometers is equal to:

  • 3.1 U.S. Statute miles
  • 2.7 Nautical miles

• Minimum cloud height depends on other conditions and may be:

  • 800 meters (2624.67 feet) or
  • 1050 meters (3444.88 feet)

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