Aerobatics in Ephrata

Constructive critiques offered from expert eyes on the ground

EPHRATA — The Port of Ephrata was all abuzz Tuesday.

The hum of small planes flying past and overhead was a constant, as the Port is the site of an aerobatics practice camp this week, sponsored by the International Aerobatics Clubs Chapter # 67 of Washington.

The camp, which began April 30 and runs through May 8, actually comes in two sessions. The first group of 11 pilots and five judges ends today, and the next group of pilots and judges begins Thursday.

Pilots attending the camp range in experience, from beginner to advanced, and many will compete later in the Apple Cup competition, to be held at the Ephrata Airport June 16-19, as well as other contests around the country.

Pilot Mac Engh, past president of the chapter, explained that the camp is for critiquing, not a contest or competition.

"Pilots come in and we have five people who are probably the better pilots … who are critiquing for us," he said, comparing the event to ice skating. "We go up and fly maneuvers, and then the judges rate us. What we're doing here, we have (critics) who are telling us how our figures look and giving us tips on how to fly the maneuvers better."

Pilots are judged on how horizontal their lines are during a maneuver segment, how round their loop is and the like.

Engh said that pilots hail from Spokane to Whidbey Island, with some coming from Canada as well.

The camp has been held in its current incarnation for about five years, although camps have been held in Ephrata for almost 10. Pilot Bob Highbee of Whidbey Island said a professional trainer used to come in and offer advice, now the more expert members of the club perform that service.

"I've wanted to do this since I was a kid," he said. "Used to see movies and things of people doing this. It's a challenge. It's something you never get to a point where you can say, 'I've gotten it.' It's a very challenging thing to do."

Those who like flight in general would find aerobatics to be an amplified or magnified version, Highbee added.

Engh said the camp is acting under the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration, so it has strict safety guidelines to comply with.

"This isn't like an air show," he said. "We don't refer to ourselves as stunt pilots. We're competition pilots, and we have very strict rules that we compete on. The safety record for our competition is very good. It's an extremely safe sport."

Engh said he is trying to improve his flying in anticipation of the Apple Cup. He has been flying about 20 years, and flying aerobatics for about 10 years.

Larry Howard of Spokane said he was in attendance to improve his skills. He's been flying for 15 years, and aerobatics five years.

"I got interested in flying old biplanes and doing basic aerobatics, and it grew into an interest in competition aerobatics," he said, adding that he received some feedback by radio and would receive more when the coaches returned from the judging line Tuesday afternoon. Advice for Howard included advice about how to make his loops rounder and corners more square.

Michael Mulcahy of Desert Aire called the camp a great way to get tuned up for the season. He's been flying airplanes for a long time, he said.

"About five, six years ago, I was not having as much fun as I thought I'd like to have, so I looked into things that could get upside down, roll and go up and down real fast," Mulcahy said.

It was the first time to get coaching in aerobatics for pilot Bryan Gore of Richland, who got his license in 2000. He originally started flying in 1962, but decided he'd better spend his time and money with his wife and young children.

"Now the kids are self-supporting and I know I have a limited time on the medical clock," Gore said of his decision to finally take flight. "I've been having the time of my life. Wonderful people here coaching, just incredibly helpful … I guess the most exciting weekend of my life probably was in Pendleton, Ore., when I flew my first competition last fall. This has got to be the second. I'm just in hog heaven."

Highbee called the Port one of the best locations in the United States to have aerobatics.

"It's a combination of the ability to have the box [a defined 3,300-square-foot imaginary box in the sky beyond the runways where pilots are supposed to perform their maneuvers] adjacent to the runway, and the people in Ephrata," he said. "We've always felt warmly welcomed, so we just love to come here."

"Ephrata has the most recreation-friendly airport around," said Port administrative assistant Patricia Dunston. "We don't have a tower, we don't have any commercial area, we don't have a lot of general aviation, so it's a good place for recreational aircraft to be."

People who want to come out and watch the pilots are welcome to watch from the lawn by the side of the airport office building.