AEROBATICS HONDA GRAND PRIX 2000 RESULTS
After a fantastic flight, graded by the judges at 91.20% perfection, solo pilot Peter Besenyei (HUN) and formation team Sukhoi Duo (GBR) win gold at Motegi, Japan, in the Aerobatics Honda Grand Prix 2000.
See results.
All competitors results were exceptionally high and demonstrate the level required to participate in the Grand Prix, for solos and formation teams.
An enthusiastic public (first estimation around 45'000) warmly responded to the spectacular flights displayed in the exceptional arena of Motegi race track.

After this last leg of the Second Series (1999-2000), Jurgis Kairys (LIT) becomes the new Grand Prix World Champion title in the solo category with 46 points, ahead of Peter Besenyei (HUN) and Viktor Tchmal (RUS) who finish equal second with 36 points.
In the formation team category, Apache takes advantage of the absence of Sky Box to win the Grand Prix World Champion title.
Sukhoi reaffirms its success and wins the Grand Prix World Champion title for sports aircraft manufacturer. 

WUXIAN 2000 RESULTS
Jurgis Kairys (LIT) and Apache (FRA) win gold at Wuxian, China.
See results.
Kairys is now well established in the lead, but there is still one leg to go, Besenyei and Tchmal are ready to take the seat and nobody can be protected from any mistake.
Just ask Martin Stahalik, Klaus Schrodt, Sky Box and Sukhoi Duo who all marked a zero because they infringed the deadline, due to a sudden gust of wind produced by a nearby storm during their flight slot.
So, for their first participation in Asia (and with 3 Sukhoi 26), the Apache team won the leg.
This contest, held over Lake Taihu, was a great success for sports aerobatics and the organisers. More than 160,000 tickets were sold at prices ranging between USD10 and USD100 depending on the location of the seat.

On October 6, CCTV1 (domestic network) and CCTV4 (international) jointly produced a live broadcast (100 min.) of our Air Ballet and of the first flight by Chinese pilots under the Lake Taihu Bridge.
This TV broadcast was so successful that it was put on air again several times in the following days. The total TV audience could very well reach a billion!
The public attendance on site was estimated at 200,000 people and it took hours for everybody to return home.
Next year, join us in China, you will be amazed!   

LAKE TAIHU UPDATE
On a message dated 8/24/00 5:51:27 AM Eastern Daylight Time, AVflash@avweb.com writes:

<< DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME: In more news from China, the Xinhua news agency announced that the festivities at the 2000 Taihu World Grand Prix of Aviation will include a flying-under-bridges contest. Scheduled for October 3-6 in East China's Jiangsu Province, the first under the No. 1 Taihu Lake Bridge will be a Chinese pilot flying an unspecified Chinese- made light plane. The bridge opening is described as about 80 feet by 18 feet. The "big prize" for the winner was not specified, but there is little doubt what will happen to an unsuccessful participant. >>

As the founder and responsible person for the FAI World Grand Prix of Aviation, Jean-Louis Monnet gives the following statement:
"The flying-under-bridges contest is not part of the FAI World Grand Prix competition at Wuxian (Taihu Lake)."
"Although we have serious professional pilots involved in the FAI Grand Prix who, individually and with the permission of the Civil Aviation Authorities of the country where they perform, love to make a show of flying under bridges with aerobatic aircraft, this kind of activity is not part of our FAI Grand Prix competition programme."
"I just heard about the Chinese "bridges contest" to be held in October at the same time as our FAI China Grand Prix but I understand it is an airshow act, a public entertainment to be performed by small ultralight planes (for small bridges!), initiated by the Chinese organiser for Chinese ULM pilots and placed under the responsibility of the Chinese aviation authorities."
"Of course the International Air Sports Federation (FAI) cannot approve or undertake any responsibility in the "bridges contest" as it is not a sporting event."
Talking then under the cap of the Aviators Studio CEO, Monnet added:
" Although I am more attracted by the development of artistic displays, I am not against our pilots (Aviators Studio's) participating in this type of "stunt performance", provided that the operation has received all legal authorisations and we can obtain enough elements in advance to carefully study the necessary conditions for such "precision flights" to be safely performed by our most competent pilots. Otherwise we say no. There is no glory in hitting the walls of a mouse hole with an aircraft!"  

WORLD AEROBATIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
Grand Prix pilots Peter BESENYEI and Svetlana KAPANINA are the 2000 Freestyle World Aerobatic Champions! 

14TH FAI WORLD GRAND PRIX
The 14th Grand Prix competition to be held at Wuxian, near Shanghai, P.R. China (03-06 October) is definitely confirmed ...  

E-SHOP
Our first e-shop is online... To be tested in English language in a first step, then it will be developed in French and in German.

JOHN LILLBERG
Farewell, John Lillberg... John was an unlimited aerobatic pilot and a good friend who joined our competitions between 1991 and 1995... He was killed in a mid-air collision between his Extra 300S and a Learjet during a ferry flight.