It would be hard to imagine how airshow legend Sean D. Tucker’s resume could get any more impressive, but you can add Canadian aerobatics champion to the list. The California pilot placed first in the Intermediate Power class of the Canadian National Aerobatics Championships last weekend in Steinbach, Manitoba flying a GB1 Gamebird. The event was sanctioned by the International Aerobatics Club, whose contests are judged on the precision and execution of maneuvers during the routine. He was coming off a third-place finish at the NorCal Classic last May.
The May event marked his first return to international competition since 1988 when he won the U.S. National Advanced Aerobatics title. Tucker spent the week prior to the competition training in Steinbach and while the little farming town south of Winnipeg was buzzing about his presence, Tucker himself was keeping the appearance low-key. The class in which he competed is for aerobatic pilots of “moderate” experience, and pilots fly an unknown routine that is set by the judges and given to the pilots only a couple of hours before their flight. They also get to compose their own program and are judged on both. It’s not clear what Tucker’s future competition plans include.
At the other end of the spectrum, one of the other competitors was 16-year-old Adam Peters, who lives in the Winnipeg area and has been training with instructor Luke Penner, one of Canada’s top aerobatic pilots and winner of the unlimited class in the competition. Peters came fifth out of six in the Sportsman Class. Sportsman pilots fly a known routine set by the judges and also do their own set of maneuvers. Peters recently got his recreational pilot license but has been competing in his Van’s RV-8 since he was 14, the minimum age for pilots to solo in Canada with an instructor supervising from the ground. With the recreational license he was allowed to shed the instructor for this year’s competition. Peters is also a homebuilder and is putting together an RV-10 with his father and grandfather at a nearby airport. CBC News did this report on Peters prior to the event.
Not many like him. We the North.
At age 73 he could be coaching these kids.
Bravo! Sean and I are contemporaries, and I’ve been following his career since the seventies. Back then, I had a Citabria in which I practiced Basic-level aerobatics for fun, because there were no nearby competitions in those days. I am in awe of his (and Patty’s) continued physical stamina and competitive drive.
Usually we tend to shrink a bit as we age…
maybe Canadian juju from the award?
Congrats to Sean, well deserved and he still looks fit and enthusiastic, too.
I’m not sure that I would categorize a win in the Intermediate category as “Canadian aerobatics champion”. This would be like Shohei Ohtani winning games for a AA Minor League team and calling him world series champion.
I would suggest quit while you’re ahead. Look back through the years and remember the names of the greats back then. One after another killed as they continued for just a while longer. But congratulations on your latest achievement!
CONGRATS SHAWN, FROM YOUR SKY SISTER, SANDI ARCHER