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COACHING & INSTRUCTION

RAFFCA Aerobatics Squad

Phil Burgess is the Chief Coach for the Royal Air Force Flying Clubs Association Aerobatics Squad, comprising  servicemen from all ranks and professional backgrounds. Squad members have placed in the medals at UK Sportsman level events and won the Slingsby Trophy in 2016. In partnership with the BAeA, the squad organises the "Tony Ayre Blade" club level trophy annually with the aim of introducing new faces to the sport of competition aerobatics. 

Dual Flying

Class Rating Instructor

Phil is a qualified Class Rating Instructor and can deliver training toward the issue of an aerobatic rating. Coaching and instruction can be delivered via dual flying in a two seat aircraft. Typical types of aircraft previously used are  the Slingsby T67 for club and sportsman level pilots and the Extra 200 for club through to advanced level pilots. 

 

Aircraft owners may wish to use their own aircraft at various locations around the UK. Contact Phil to discuss your requirements and tailor a coaching or intstruction package to suit you. 

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In all coaching exercises, on board video makes for a useful tool to be reviewed during the post flight debrief.

Solo Flying

Perhaps the most effective training method is to fly an aircraft solo while the coach observes from the ground and offers advice in real time via the radio. Getting feedback from the judging perspective in this manner is the only way to determine the overall shape of certain figures. Training individual figures and short sequences with a ground based coach can yield great results in a short space of time if the student is receptive. 

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A simulated contest environment can also be achieved for training unknown sequences and the coaching advice can be recorded in MP3 format for review after the flight and incorporation into onboard camera footage. 

Sequence Design

There are a various methods available for creating aerobatic sequences and competition scoring paperwork. Phil uses the free on-line resource www.openaero.net for this purpose. Following rule changes in 2016, pilots competing at intermediate level and upwards are required to create their own "free-known" aerobatic sequences within certain guidelines. 

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Effective sequence design is critical to maximising your performance in a contest. Phil can provide advice on tailoring your sequence to match your aircraft's performance and build in options to suit various wind conditions.

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