Other events in Baltic States

Marking the 810th anniversary of Riga, the world's best pilots will participate the world's most prestigious aerobatic competition, "Elite Aerobatic Formula", that will continue in Riga from August 18 through August 21, reports liveriga.com.

"The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Elite Aerobatic Formula" (FAI EAF) will be held for four days in Riga in August 2011. The EAF competition will run from August 18 through August 20, after which Rigans and guests of the city will be offered a special aerobatics program on August 21. The flights, which will take place over the Daugava River in Riga downtown, between Salu Bridge and Dienvidu Bridge, will be an unforgettable experience for the spectators.

FAI EAF (The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Elite Aerobatic Formula) is a top-level aerobatic competition, often dubbed "Formula 1 in the sky". Only the world's best pilots in the "Unlimited" category may participate in the competition. In Riga, the pilots will compete in two categories: "Aerobatics Against Time" (AAT) and "Freestyle". At the end of each part of the competition, the planes will have to fly through a "Timing Gate" over the Daugava.

In the "Aerobics Against Time" part of the competition, pilots will have to perform six to seven manoeuvres in the air in a unique sequence. The pilots learn about the manoeuvres and the sequence in which they must be performed only at the beginning of the competition, which creates intrigue and equal starting position for all the pilots. During this part of the competition the pilots must perform manoeuvres as fast as they can, and every mistake gives a 5 second penalty.

"Aerobatics Freestyle" allows pilots to freely choose the manoeuvres and the sequence of their performance within 3 minutes. During this part pilots are to show their best moves. During this part of competition, pilots may use smoke as an element of the show. After the completion of both parts of the competition, the pilots' aggregate scores are calculated.

Only the world's best pilots may participate in FAI EAF competition. One country may be represented by only one pilot at the competition, and not more than ten pilots may participate in each competition. Past winners of the competition and internationally acclaimed pilots will take part in Riga EAF event: Spain's Castor Fantoba and Russia's Svetlana Kapanina, the sole female participant in the competition. Altogether, there are only 15 pilots in the entire world who may participate in the competition, and most of them will be in Latvia for the Riga FAI event.