VILLAS — Look to the sky above the County Airport June 26-29 and you will see airplanes doing loops, rolls and figure eights.
Will Morey of the Morey Organization and Craig Wisman, vice president of International Aerobatic Club Chapter 52 (IAC) spoke to Lower Township Council Monday to update them on Wildwoods’ Acroblast, coming for four days in June, billed as “Aerobatic Competition and Boardwalk Fun!”
Morey, who has been a pilot for 34 years, said he became involved in competition aerobatics as a way to enhance his flying skills. He said he flew in his first contest one year ago.
Morey said he recognized what a fantastic airport we have here and how ideally laid out it is for competitive flying.
The objective is to make “Wildwood’s Acroblast” a family event with participants enjoying the beaches and boardwalk and “generally promote the region and the airport as a great place to visit,” he said.
Morey said he met with Lower Township Mayor Walter Craig and Township Manager Joe Jackson to cover the basics of the competition. He said he is completing an agreement with the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA), which operates the airport and met with Erma and Villas volunteer fire company representatives.
Wisman, who has served as director of aerobatic events, said “Wildwoods’ Acroblast” would not be an air show but a precision flying contest.
“There are no professionals, there’s no prize money,” he said.
About 25 to 50 competitors are expected at the event with aerobatic contest flying taking place Friday afternoon, all day Saturday and until mid-afternoon Sunday, said Wisman.
He said pilots would fly in “five categories of difficulty” starting from very simple to “unlimited,” for very experienced competition flyers. Each contestant will fly two or three programs, a qualifying flight and an unknown program, which is made up by the contestant, said Wisman.
Five judges grade each flight, he said.
Wisman said IAC has been sanctioning competitive flying events for about 30 years.
“They have an enviable safety record, there has never been a major accident at any regional aerobatic competition in the United States,” said Wisman.
While the event is not an air show, he said the flights would draw spectators to the airport.
The competition will take place in an “aerobatic box,” a 1,000 meter cube in the sky,” said Wisman.
“In this particular airport, all of that flying is over the airport property, over unoccupied and uninhabited land so we are not flying over anybody’s houses or farms,” he said.
The airport will remain open for air traffic during the event, said Wisman.
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