Hello rotorheads,Last weekend I was in Austria (Aigen/Ennstal)at the Helicopter WM 2002. So I thought I post some info and pics on it... (Did you really know that a WM exists ;-)In 5 days several tasks had to be done: navigation flying (finding objects and turn points), precision flying (flying a square at 9 feet AGL with time limitation, turning, precise landing), fender rigging (drop external loads into a kind of small barrel), slalom (get a bucket full of water on a 5 m rope through the slalom and set it down on a table with 1 m diameter) and freestyle (kind of airshow style, turns, nearly full looping..)The first place made a russian team with the Mi-2!Other helicopter types included: Alouette, SA-342 Gazelle, AS-350 A-Star, Hughes 300 and 500, R-22, R-44, Bell 206, OH-58 and EC-120 Colibri (my love :-)Was fantastic to see how precise an helo can be flown and what is possible (freestyle). It was really worth the visit, so here are some pics from the official site, visit www.hs-wm.at Maybe I upload some pics of my own when they're developed, too.The last pic shows the bad situation this Tuesday, the whole airport under water! (Fortunately, during the WM the weather was mostly good!) Parts of Austria and Germany are under water, but luckily the weather gets better these days...Regards,Robert:-rotorEDCJ

Hi Robert!It sounds like you had a great time! I look forward to seeing your photos when they are ready!Talk to you soon...Wayne

Excellent Robert !! No, I didn't know that you had those championships in Austria..... I hope the water recedes quickly over there and in all the other places that are stricken at the moment. :-(Thanks for the news and the pictures ! :-rotor :-outta Francois :-wave[table border=0 cellpadding=10 cellspacing=0][tr][td valign=bottom" align="center]"At home in the wild"[/td][td valign=bottom" align="center][link:avsim.com/alaska/alaska_051.htm|Don's Alaskan Bush Charters]"Beavers Lead the Way"[/td][td valign=bottom" align="center][link:www.avsim.com/vfr_center/mainpages/vfr_flights_main_page.htm]VFR Flight Center]"Looking Good Outside"[/td][/tr][tr][td valign=top" align="center]http://avsim.com/hangar/air/bfu/logo70.gif[/td][td valign="top" align="left" colspan=2]http://www.fssupport.com/images/moose2.gif[/td][tr][/table]________________________Francois A. "Navman" DumasAssociate Editor &Forums AdministratorAVSIM Online![/bemail: [email protected]________________________

Robert, make sure you tell us, neighbours, about such interesting events in advance so we can come there and watch it. It surely looks very interesting. Thanks for sharing !Miro MajcenManaging Editor EuropeAVSIM Onlinewww.avsim.com

Hello Miro,you're right, should have posted it before! Unfortunately I don't know when the next WM takes place (maybe only every 4 years?), the only thing I know is that it will probably be in the UK or Switzerland.Speaking of Switzerland, from 17-20th September the Airmed takes place in Interlaken. They (REGA, an air-rescue company) will show air-rescue demonstrations with helicopters, for example.Visit www.airmed2002.chUnfortunately I'm not really sure if it's public, and since I won't drive to the Airmed, would be interesting if someone does and to see some pics too then :-)Wayne,did you receive my e-mail? Do you still have problems replying?Until next week...I post some of my own Helicopter WM pictures end of the next week.Best Regards,Robert:-rotorEDCJ