The Model Aerobatic South African Team to participate in the World Championship in Argentina -- Scott Crescent

In this first article, I would like to introduce the selected members to represent South Africa at the world champs to be held in Argentina and give a brief overview of how they were selected.

Team Manager: Nico Erasmus

Pedigree: Nico aged 54, started his devotion to the radio controlled craze at the age of 16. Started flying aerobatics about twelve years ago and has won numerous competitions in Sportsman, Advanced classes. He is currently flying in the Expert class. He’s greatest achievement is becoming the S.A Masters Champion in the advanced class in 2006.

Nico was selected by the team members as Team Manager, he will organize all aspects of the coastal practices, promotion campaigns, air show and sponsorship requests and will be the “Public Relations Officer” of the South African Team whilst in Argentina. The World Champs runs from the 10/11/07 and ends on the 18/11/07.

The team selection was based on three qualifying competitions: Nationals 2006, Masters 2006 and the Nationals 2007.

The top two ranked pilots indicated very early on that they would not be interested in team participation therefore opening the door for the upcoming pilots in the F3a Class.

1st Team Member: Marc Wolffe
2006-2007 F3A team ranking: 3
Region: Western Cape
Age: 42

Pedigree: Marc started flying at the age of ten, won the Junior Thermal Championships (gliders) in 1979. 1980 started flying power aircraft for the first time, in 1981 started his aerobatic career and won his first Provincial Championships in the F3A class in 1987, he has been crowned National Fun Fly Champ five times and seven times winner of the Western Province Scale Championship, four times Border F3A champion and two times Eastern Province F3A Champion.

Goal: Marc has bought Marcello Columbo’s Genises and plans to do well at the world champs.

2^nd F3A team member: Ian Wentzel
2006-2007 F3A Team Ranking: 4th
Region: North West
Age: 34

Ian started flying radio controlled gliders at the age of ten and power planes at the age of 14, this modest aeromodellar started flying aerobatics in 1998 and advanced to the F3A class in one year, he was also the National Champion in the Expert class the same year.

Goal: Would like to get some international exposure and up his standard of flying.

3rd F3A team member: Carel Germishuys
2006-2007 F3A Team Ranking: 5^th
Region: Gauteng
Age: 36

Pedigree: Mr. Aviator, Carel is a former Military aviator and now a SAA pilot. He started flying model aeroplanes in 1987 and started flying aerobatics in 1997. He has won numerous provincial competitions in all classes. Carel enjoys wide variety of model aviation and actively takes part in Large-Scale and Electric disciplines.

Carel was team manager for the team that took part in 2005 and this time round will be flying.

The other members elected Carel Team Captain.

Goal: Would like too see what ranking he can achieve amongst the best of the best.