WAC 2019 in Châteauroux
The 30th FAI World Aerobatic Championships (WAC) aka the 30th FAI World Aerobatic Championships (Unlimited category) will take place from Thursday 22nd to Saturday 31st August in Châteauroux. The previous Championship organized in France had recorded in 2015 the arrival of 120,000 spectators on the 10 days of the competition including 50,000 on the day of the closing meeting.
The 2019 edition, organized by the FFA on behalf of the International Aeronautical Federation (FAI), will run according to the following schedule:
- 17 to 21 August: official training.
- August 21: opening ceremony in the city center with a parade of competitors and passage of the Patrouille de France.
- August 22nd: the beginning of the tests.
- August 22 to 30: Programs Known Free, Unknown 1, Unknown 2, Unknown 3.
- August 31: Full Free program, air meeting and closing ceremony in the evening.
During these 10 days of competition, 60 drivers of 20 nations are expected in the box of 1.000 m of side. Winner of the world title, the France team has to take up the challenge of retaining the title. France won the last three team world championships, in Texas in 2013, in Châteauroux in 2015 and in South Africa in 2017. In addition, in 2018, she won in the Czech Republic the European championship, organized a year in two alternating with the world championship.
Competition is strong this year. Some of the favorites are Mikhail Mamistov (Russia), the holder of the world title, but also Martin Sonka (Czech Republic), Castor Fantoba (Spain), Gerald Cooper (United Kingdom), Artur Kielak (Poland) ), Bénédicte Blanchard, Mike Brageot, Victor Lalloué (EVAA), Alexandre Leboulanger – all from France, Tamas Illes (Hungary), Vladimir Gavrilenko (Russia), Oleg Shpolyanskiy (Russia) and Svetlana Kapanina (Russia).
During the 10 days, the access is free with many animations for the public: flight simulators, static exhibition of vintage planes, giant screens, baptisms of aerobatics, driving sessions … and closing meeting with Rafale, PAF, warbirds. Air visitors can land in Châteauroux-Villers (about forty seats per day) with shuttle to the airport.