Glider Aerobatics - An Introduction to Competition-Style Glider Aerobatics
Author: Pekka Havbrandt
Hardcover, Publication Date: June 2023, 260 pages, many illustrations and photos
Language: English
Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.7 x 0.67 inches (240 x 170 x 17 mm)

Overview 
An Introduction to completion-style glider aerobatics. 

Aerobatic Competition with the MDM-1 Fox, Training, Rules, Airshows, Stories and Glider Aerobatics training with the ASK21.

Take your gliding experience to the next level with this new book written by Pekka Havbrandt - a Glider Aerobatic Instructor, Competition Pilot, Airshow Pilot, Judge, International Jury member, Aerobatic Coach and Chairman of the FAI CIVA Glider Aerobatics Committee.

This book is a manual for the beginner Glider Aerobatic Competition Pilot. It explains how to practice, compete, and perform aerobatic maneuvers. 

In this book, Pekka will explain the rules and the Aresti figures. He will give detailed instructions on how to fly the most common competition maneuvers. In addition, there is a section on how to fly aerobatic displays and another section on how to perform the initial training with the ASK 21 glider.

Pekka was one of Sandor Katonas (1935-2023) students. Sandor was a world-renowned aerobatics instructor who has competed in most World and European Glider Aerobatic Championships. Sandor sadly passed away in 2023 at the age of 88. This book is dedicated to him, and it's based on his training methods.

About the Author - Pekka Havbrandt
I started to fly gliders in 1964. I made my first loop in 1965. 1969/68 I flew the Saab 105 jet trainer as an Airforce Cadet. I did formal aerobatic training in a Beagle Pup in Stockholm for the national license in 1970. I became an Aeronautical engineer at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. By training, I am an aircraft designer. I have worked at Volvo Aero designing jet engines and at Saab with the maintenance of aircraft. I have made a living by working as an aircraft maintenance and modification shop manager, in-cluding military fighter jet engines and large commercial Jumbo Jet engines, and kept the Power and Glider flying as my hobby. I have, at different times, owned or part-owned 10 aircraft. I am an approved EAA mechanic. I started aerobatic competitions with a Bellanca Decathlon in Sportsman and Inter-mediate. I was the Swedish Sportsman champion in 1987 with a Bellanca and just for fun again in 2017 with a Laser. I did many airshows in an H101 Salto.

I founded the Glider aerobatic competitions in Sweden in 1992 using what I had learned from the IAC competitions with my Bellanca. Since then, I have been involved in all the Swedish Glider Aerobatic Competitions as a rules writer, competitor, organizer, judge, and contest director.

I have been both Swedish and Nordic Glider Aerobatic Champion. My best international achievement is no 10 individually and the Team Silver medal in WAGAC 2010. I am a Glider Aerobatic Instructor and have trained more than 50 Aerobatic students and a few Glider Aerobatic Instructors in the ASK 21. I have received the Biancotto Diploma, the FAI Gold medal, and the Swedish Air Sports Federations gold medal for my work with the Swedish team. As a coach, I have had the honor of training Sebastian Jansson and Gustaf Salminen to Gold medals in WAGAC 2016 and WAGAC 2017. I still fly gliders, motor gliders, and PA25 tow planes. I told you, I own the bragging rights to this book ;-).

I have also spent long hours with pilots such as Manfred Echter discussing rules and with Eric Lentz-Gauthier discussing the true nature of the roll. I must also admit that I, at times, have been drawn to the Dark Side. I have flown aerobatics with Saab 105, Beagle Pup, Bellanca Decathlon, Tiger Moth, Chipmunk, Saab Safir, Zlin 526, and Laser 230, and I have had spin and safety training with Clint Mc Henry in a Pitts S2B and with both Wayne Handley and Patty Wagstaff in the Extra 300L.