British Aerobatics Open and National Championship July 2026
Our own Barrie Eeles competed
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Sywell Aerodrome UK
The British Open, organised and hosted by British Aerobatic Association Limited is recognised by The Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom, the governing body of sport aerobatics in the UK. The contest was run according to CIVA Sporting Code Section 6-1 as far as is practical, modified to conform with British Aerobatics General Rules and local circumstances.
The competition included the following categories:
Sports (Power)
Intermediate (Power)
Advanced (Power)
Unlimited (Power)
Freestyle (4-6 minutes)
The Freestyle programme was open to pilots on an invitational basis only.
The contest was open to UK pilots in the Sports, Intermediate, Advanced and Unlimited categories. International pilots were only accepted for Advanced and Unlimited categories. However, British Open Champion titles, trophies, and medals were awarded to the best scoring pilots at Advanced and Unlimited categories, regardless of nationality. Entries to the competition were capped at a maximum of 30 pilots, across all Aresti categories.
Competition flying took place from Wednesday 22 July through Saturday 25 July, with Sunday 26 July reserved as a weather contingency day. Fortunately, the weather cooperated throughout the event, allowing the full programme to be completed as scheduled.
Representing South Africa at the Championships was Barrie Eeles. Barrie started his flying career back in 1986 and started competing in aerobatic competitions in 2005 and has since won numerous regional contests in all the different categories including the Advanced National Championship. He is not a stranger in international competitons having represented South Africa internationally as part of the National Aerobatic Team at World Aerobatic Championships (WAC). Barrie is the current SA Unlimited Class Champion.
Despite describing his performance as "not my best day," Barrie once again did South Africa proud with a determined and highly respectable showing against a strong international field.
Our own Quintin Hawthorne was one of four international Judges during the competition. The other three were Alain Dugas (FRA), Eladi Lozano and Gonzalo Rodriguez (ESP). Judges are assessed and ranked according to their ability to correctly apply the requisite judging criteria and to correctly rank the pilots overall placing.
With both a competitor and a judge representing the country, South Africa once again demonstrated the high standard of its aerobatic community on the international stage. Barrie Eeles' participation against some of Europe's finest pilots, together with Quintin Hawthorne's appointment to the international judging panel, reflects the respect South African aerobatics continues to enjoy worldwide.
