World Aerobatics South Cerney 1986

[acklington]

I was working at Bristol Airport when the World Aerobatic Championships were fortuitously held at the nearby South Cerney Airfield. Formerly it was an RAF grass airfield but with permanent hangarage and buildings, subsequently taken over by the Army in the 1970s. For my assistance with the competitors and their aircraft who came in via Bristol Airport, I was given a pass for the 16th August 1986, a lovely sunny day.


Seen arriving at Bristol is Aeroflot IL-76 CCCP-86844, carrying the three dismantled aircraft of the Russian Team


The aircraft 07, 08, and 06 (left to right) were assembled in the Bellman hangar at Bristol, prior to flying over to South Cerney


At South Cerney, the real attractions proved to be the various support aircraft, including this French Air Force Jodel No.200 coded XC


In the hangar were some aerobatic aircraft that did not appear to be actual competitors, including the unique Cosmic Wind 'Ballerina' G-ARUL


Wonderful Hungarian support aircraft An-2 HA-ANK. Note the guy on the left who was the Russian Team's 'Spook'. Because he was there MI6 sent a British 'Spook' from London to keep an eye on them, a rather elegant lady. The Russian bloke was also in charge of the Team's money - a brown envelope containing a lot of US Dollars - I kid you not!


Italian Team CAP.21 I-IZAK


And I-SIVM


The large American Team included N1LM, and I'm sorry I don't know what some of these aircraft are!


And N8HH. Also note South Cerney's 'fort type' Control Tower behind


Pitts N20NE, one of the support aircraft


N104JP, another Pitts (which I can recognise!)


N169CM


N200ST


N230X


N300KW, marked as Kermit Week's aircraft - many machines have well-known pilot's names on them


N4781T, Citabria, one of the support aircraft, or in some cases the competing pilot's personal runabout


DH82a N85882, in Swedish AF colours, formerly DF133, G-ANDN, and SE-COY


Another star item, the Czech support aircraft An-2 OK-EIA






Czech Zlin 50L OK-IRG


And OK-PRL

These are only some of the photos I took, and as I work through my slide collection, scanning and restoring, I'll try to add more photos to this thread.

Thanks for looking, and a Happy New Year to All!

[ian531]

Great report, thanks
Ian

[gwoof]

Well you saw more of it than I managed and I only live a few miles down the road Do remember logging that French AF Jodel though!

Tenuous Merseyside link with Ballerina. Now based at Duxford and owned by Pete Kynsey who is a fellow Wirral lad and someone I had a flight as a passenger with out of Speke

Nice scans too.