Llano hosting Hammerfest aerobatic contest
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
LLANO — The toughest part about watching the 2014 Hill Country Hammerfest might be stretching the kinks out of your neck afterward.
With all the action taking place up above, you’ll have to crane your neck back to watch pilots put their specially built aircraft through their paces during the competition Aug. 29-31 at the Llano Municipal Airport.
“This is a judged competition,” said Jeffery Poehlmann, the president of IAC (International Aerobatic Club) Chapter 107. “We have a panel of judges who will be judging the competitors on very specific criteria.”
The pilots and planes will begin arriving during the week with registration and practice slated for Aug. 29. The competition runs Aug. 30-31.
Pilots compete in five classes: primary, sportsmen, intermediate, advanced and unlimited. The competitors will fly in three judged flights.
“Each competitor flies a sequence within their category,” Poehlmann said.
Pilots must fly within a one-kilometer-by-one-kilometer box and stay below 3,500 feet. The box is marked out on the ground adjacent to the airport.
The planes used in this type of competition are designed specifically for aerobatics. Poehlmann said some of the aircraft include Pitts Specials, Sukhois and EXTRAs.
“They are designed for high-G maneuvers, both positive and negative,” he said. “They are designed to fly upside down as well as right-side up.
“They also have really good seat belts,” Poehlmann added with a laugh.
The Hill Country Hammerfest draws between 20 and 35 planes. Most of the pilots come from Texas and south central United States, but Poehlmann said the the event draws competitors from farther locations as well.
The Hill Country Hammerfest is one of the last aerobatic competitions before the U.S. National Aerobatic Championships on Sept. 20-27 at North Texas Regional/Perrin Field, located between Sherman and Dennison.
This is the 13th year Llano has hosted the Hill Country Hammerfest. Poehlmann said the city of Llano, the Llano Municipal Airport staff and the community have worked with the IAC Chapter 107 to make the event successful and popular.
“The people of Llano just make this a great place to hold the event,” he said.
The public can watch the event from the airport grounds. The airport is located at 100 Evelyn Gould, which is about two miles north of Texas 16. Call the municipal airport at (325) 247-5635 for more information.
daniel@thepicayune.com