COMPETITION

The World Precision Flying Championship, is an International competition held bi-annually and designed for solo pilots flying single piston aircraft. The sport of precision flying is aimed at improving fundamental flying skill to enable a solo pilot to navigate and handle an aircraft under basic visual flying conditions independent of the use of technical systems thus enhancing flying safety. Precision flying in light aircraft is the aerial equivalent of "orienteering" a sport well know amongst athletes.

The 12th Annual WPFC competition was hosted by the International Organization of Women Pilots and held at Meacham International Airport in Fort Worth, Texas, September 28 through October 5, 1996. Eighty-nine competitors participated from 19 countries. The 1996 competition was the first one in which a Canadian National Team participated since Canada had hosted the competition in 1979.

TRAINING

Over the course of 2 months, during July and August of 1996, the "Crazy Canards" Team members all got together on three separate occasions to learn the techniques and practise the skills required to flight plan, then accurately fly an aircraft on a heading, speed and course while navigating along a pre-planned route, observing ground targets and arriving directly overhead designated turn points at precisely the required second!

The second phase of training focused on precise landing. Pilots are allowed only one landing attempt with the aircraft being flown in a different landing configuration each try: 1) power on and full use of flaps; 2) power off (idle throttle) and with use of flaps; 3) power off and no use of flaps and finally; 4) landing over a 2 meter high obstacle 50 meters before the touchdown zone which is a two meter wide chalked area on the runway. An elaborate electronic scoring grid system overlies the runway and registers the contact of the aircrafts wheels to determine a pilots landing score.

Precision flying is a competitive sporting activity which had it's origins in Europe. With the formation of the 1996 "Crazy Canards" and the follow on establishment of the Canadian Precision Flying Association we have brought the sport to Canada. The only requirement to become a precision pilot is a Private Pilots License and a determined desired to practise the basic flying skills and become the best pilot you can be!