What's Happening in Corvallis, OR…

An unusual event is coming to Corvallis, and should be fun for spectators as well as participants.

The Corvallis Corkscrew is an aerobatic competition hosted by the International Aerobatic Club. In these contests, each competitor is required to fly a series of flights that are then graded by a panel of judges. The grades are based on the type of maneuvers that were flown, as well as how well these figures fit in the aerobatic box, which is the specific block of air in which the pilot must remain during the routine.

The judges typically consider the symmetry of the figures flown, the roundness of the partial and full loops, and the precision of the angles and lines in making their judgment, among other considerations.

Each judge is given a copy of the pilot’s planned maneuvers before the flight begins. In addition, each maneuver is given a difficulty coefficient, the “K factor,” depending on how hard it is to fly. With this information, the judge grades each figure from 0 to 10, and multiplies that score by the K factor. A computer adjusts the final scores to account for any inconsistency or bias.

Volunteers help ensure the event runs smoothly and even non-pilots can enjoy watching the precision flying necessary to compete successfully in aerobatic events. The Corvallis Corkscrew takes place August 18 and 19 at the Corvallis Municipal Airport, and organizers of events like this can use flyer printing to create handouts, identifying the participants for spectators.