Events
August 20-21 preparation event for RIGA WORLD ELITE AEROBATIC FORMULA 2011, Riga, Latvia 2010-08-20

The second part of the Aerobatic flights above the river Dauguva hold the breath of thousands spectators

Before 6 p.m. the crowd between two large Riga’s bridges – Vansu and Stonebridge - started to grow on the eyes. Everybody around were friendly chatting about the midday event and the first part of the flights. They were amazed and now loudly questioned each other: “Will they really see today the amazing Underbridge flight, which was performed in the inverted position 10 years ago under the Kaunas Pedestrian Bridge”? Few minutes after 6 p.m. in the horizon of Riga’s city showed Aerobatic elite masters: Jurgis Kairys (Lithuania), Svetlana Kapanina (Russia) and Castor Fantoba (Spain). They came to perform the second part of „World Elite Aerobatic Formula (WEAF)” competition demonstration and were greeted by the crowd applauses.

At first, spectators could see how three pilots expressed their greetings to the crowd celebrating Riga’s feast-day. Three pilots came in a formation. Svetlana Kapanina (Russia) was taking the lead with her plain SU – 26, Jurgis Kairys (Lithuania, with a plain JUKA) and Castor Fantoba (Spain, with  a plain SU -26) flew beside her. They performed a specially prepared 10 minutes program that included the combination of formation manoeuvres and artistic solo performances.   
After that, the second part of the aviation show began. Two Aerobatic elite masters – S.Kapanina and C.Fantoba started the second part of „World Elite Aerobatic Formula (WEAF)” competition. This competition consisted of 7 obligatory manoeuvres and a freestyle flight that had to take 3 minutes precisely per flight. The contestants and their flights were accompanied by applauses.
The pilots were judged by Lithuanian international category judges: Algis Erlickas, Vytautas Armonas, and national category judge Donaldas Bleifertas, results were counted by Vytautas Tautkevičius.
The judges counted the time of flights and gave penalty points for the mistakes made during the obligatory manoeuvres. The freestyle manoeuvres were evaluated not only by the technical performance, but also by the amazing view and impression. The astonished spectators were cheering their favourite pilots and encouraging them.
After the intensive competition and counted points, the judges pronounced that the leader of the day and the winner of this „World Elite Aerobatic Formula (WEAF)” competition round in Riga is Svetlana Kapanina and the second place belongs to Castor Fantoba.
At 6.40 p.m. at the horizon of Riga’s city appeared Jurgis Kairys (Lithuania). The spectators were catching the moments of his performance from the first manoeuvre till the last one. Everyone was waiting the moment when the pilot will go below the bridge. Every time when Aerobatic elite master was approaching Vansu Bridge, the crowd started to hold the breath. But J.Kairys forced the crowd to wait and astonished them with the difficult and beautifully performed technical manoeuvres for about 15 minutes. When that moment came and J.Kairys flew between the water and the bridge the applauses and whoops of joy started. The people were grateful for such a glorious view.
At 11 p.m. Aerobatic elite masters were congratulated by the Municipal Government of Riga and thanked for the amazing show, organized by Jurgis Kairys and „Flights Unlimited“.

2010-08-21
WEAF event and Show with Underbridge flight , Riga, Latvia
© Jurgis Kairys,
Tel.: +370 699 25 325, Fax.: +370 52 73 73 41, E-mail: kairys@zebra.lt