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In 2003 the FAI World Grand Prix competition opened to all spectacular air sports.

Since 1990, we organised many events in Europe, America, Asia and in the Gulf. Between 1996 and 2006, we explored three new territories for sports aviation: P.R. China, Japan and the United Arab Emirates which hosted the first competition for jet aerobatic teams in 2004.

In the same period, we have been developing:
Haute Voltige Air Musicals
, a different air show concept where aircraft are considered as tools for artists, an outdoor Air Theatre where a story is acted out by pilots flying their aircraft to originally composed music, a new Performing Art for the 21st Century;

Haute Voltige Specials
, spectacular displays like The Time Challenge (low altitude aerobatic contest against time) or flying legally through a natural cave or under bridges.

Virtual Haute Voltige
, a new section of the FAI World Grand Prix competition, that will take children, as well as more experienced pilots, into flying formation teams in the safest and most exciting 3-D environment.


Our History

Our company was founded in 1988 by a former team leader of the Patrouille de France who believed that aircraft had been created as artistic tools, not only to transport passengers, freight or armament.
Our first event was AERIA 89, held at Neuchâtel (Switzerland) with a man who had been on the moon, and then we created sponsored events to develop public awareness of sport Aerobatics, as well as promoting a brand name:
The ”Breitling Masters of Aerobatics” (one event per year between 1990 and 1992)
The “Breitling World Cup of Aerobatics” (five events per year between 1993 and 1995)

In 1996, after six successful years of collaboration with Aerobatics, our permanent sponsor
oriented its support in a different direction and our company decided to develop the FAI World Grand Prix, an international aerobatic competition, officially sanctioned by the FAI (World Air Sports Federation).

In 2005 the FAI World Grand Prix concept merged with the Haute Voltige motto "Fighting the spirit of gravity"...to make it a high performance Team Spirit.

 

Souvenir
Although none of these pilots died during a Haute Voltige event, they were great people who played with us and we are proud to honour their memory:

1990 - Eric Müller (SWI) - Human factor
Eric suffered a fatal heart attack in his home, just before he was scheduled to fly at our first event.


1993 - Alexander Ljubarets (RUS) - Human factor
Just a few days after winning the 1993 European Aerobatic Champion, Alexander entered a mid-air collision with one of his team members while practicing formation flying in Russia.

1995 - Natalia Sergeeva (RUS) - Technical reason
1990 World Aerobatic Champion.
At the Moscow airshow, Natalia experienced a technical problem with the aircraft during her display (twisted push rod?).

1996 - Rick Massagee (USA) - Technical reason
Due to a defect in the manufacturing of the wing by a sub-contractor, the wing broke during his first practice flight, first manoeuvre on a new aircraft in USA.

1998 - Christian & Danny Schweizer (SWI) - Environment + human factor.
Trapped by adverse weather conditions in the Swiss mountains during a ferry flight with a P-51 Mustang, Christian and his son Danny (also an aerobatic pilot, but a passenger during this flight) both died when the aircraft hit a mountain in the clouds.

2000 - John Lillberg (USA) - Human factor
During a ferry flight in Florida, mid-air collision with a business jet. John and the three members of the jet died.

2001 - Martin Stahalik (CZE) - Technical reason
On Friday 9th March 2001, Martin was instructor on board a Yak52 with his student, a 31 year old KLM copilot when they crashed near Teuge Airport, in Holland. It seems the aircraft did not recover from a flat spin. Both pilots died.

2002 - Michel COSTE (FRA) - Human factor
On June 23rd, while a wingman of the Space Knights Formation Team (AcroEze) Michel crashed after a split, without any apparent reason. No tecnical defect was found by the experts on the aircraft, no definite conclusion made by the official Enquiry Board on the human factor, it is not impossible that Michel could have experienced a medical problem.