2002 Florida Championships

04-30-02

Flytec Championship

After last year's formal protest during the Florida Championships, the Swift class gliders found themselves in a class of their own during the 2002 competition. This left the door open for a more closely knotted competition in the new class 5 category. While the top three finishes in the class 5 were foreign nationals, the US did manage to place 5 of the top 10 competition pilots in the event. Davis Straub came in tops for the US on his Air Atos C glider in 4th position.

In Class 1 (flex wing), Paris Williams on his Icaro glider took 2nd overall while Kari Castle glided to a 17th overall position and the top women’s position on her Icaro. Other noticeable competitors were Dennis Pagen, noted book author and publisher, at 19th and Chris Aria of Canada, manufacturer of the Tangent Flight Computer, at 20th.

Last year's Flytec rigid wing champion, Brian Porter of the US, and last year's Flytec flex wing champion, Manfred Ruhmer of Austria, went wing to wing in the class 2 category, both of them flying Swift gliders. Manfred, being relatively inexperienced on the Swift glider, pulled off a the upset of Brian who finished in 1st in last year's Flytec Championship and Wallaby Open. Manfred decided to enter in this class at the last moment after a swift glider became available for him to fly.

Flytec Results:
Flex Wing Results | Rigid Wing Results | Swift Results

Wallaby Open

The Wallaby open got off to a slow start after having the first two days canceled for bad weather. When the skies cleared, veteran pilot Bruce Barmakian placed tops for the US in 4th position just ahead of Davis Straub in the rigid wing class 5. This is big step up for Bruce after finishing 19th in last year's Wallaby Open.

Paris Williams managed the top position for the US in class 1 with a 3rd place finish and Brian Porter flew past Robin Hamilton of Great Britain in the newly reorganized Class 2.

With only 2 entrants in the Class 2 category at both the Wallaby Open and the Flytec Championship, it remains to be seen if this class will become competitive.

Wallaby Results:
Flex Wing Results | Rigid Wing Results | Swift Results