The Top Seven Finalist of the 2008 Invitational Class
Take a few moments to view the DVD trailer of the event - HERE
Jason Noll - First Place
Hometown: Savoy, Illinois
Accomplishments:
- 6 time Masters World Aerobatic Championships competitor (7th place 2004, 2nd place 2006)
- 2 time XFC Champion, (2006 and 2007)
- 2008 XFC (2nd place)
- 2008 ETOC (2nd place)
- 2005 IMAC Nationals Champion
- 7 time Tucson Aerobatic Shootout Invitational Competitor (3rd place 2006, 2nd place 2007)
- 2006 ETOC Champion, (4th place in 2007)
- 2 time E-fest F3P / Freestyle Champion
- 2 time Chitty 3D Indoor Championship Champion
Sponsors: Futaba, Aeroworks, Desert Aircraft, Thunder Power Batteries, Fromeco regulators, Tru-Turn Spinners,
Aerographix
Accomplishments:
- 6 time Masters World Aerobatic Championships competitor (7th place 2004, 2nd place 2006)
- 2 time XFC Champion, (2006 and 2007)
- 2008 XFC (2nd place)
- 2008 ETOC (2nd place)
- 2005 IMAC Nationals Champion
- 7 time Tucson Aerobatic Shootout Invitational Competitor (3rd place 2006, 2nd place 2007)
- 2006 ETOC Champion, (4th place in 2007)
- 2 time E-fest F3P / Freestyle Champion
- 2 time Chitty 3D Indoor Championship Champion
Sponsors: Futaba, Aeroworks, Desert Aircraft, Thunder Power Batteries, Fromeco regulators, Tru-Turn Spinners,
Aerographix
Mark Leseberg, Jr - Second Place
Hometown: Washington, Utah
Accomplishments:
- 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 Tucson Aerobatic Shootout Invitational Champion
- 2005 Tucson Aerobatic Shootout Freestyle Champion
- 6 Time IMAC National Champion, 3 Unlimited, 3 Freestyle
- 2008 EFEXPO Champion
- 2003 World Freestyle Runner Up
Sponsors: Horizon Hobby, Desert Aircraft, Dalton Aviation, JR, Hacker Brushless, Thunder Power, PowerBox Systems, QuiQue Aircraft, Insane Foamies
Accomplishments:
- 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 Tucson Aerobatic Shootout Invitational Champion
- 2005 Tucson Aerobatic Shootout Freestyle Champion
- 6 Time IMAC National Champion, 3 Unlimited, 3 Freestyle
- 2008 EFEXPO Champion
- 2003 World Freestyle Runner Up
Sponsors: Horizon Hobby, Desert Aircraft, Dalton Aviation, JR, Hacker Brushless, Thunder Power, PowerBox Systems, QuiQue Aircraft, Insane Foamies
Gernot Bruckmann - Third Place
Hometown: Villach/Austria
Accomplishments:
- 3rd XFC 2006
- 2nd XFC 2007
- 1st Freestyle TAS 2007
- 2nd ETOC 2007, 5th ETOC 2008
- 3rd German AcroMasters 2006, 1st German AcroMasters Freestyle
- 1st European XFC 2007
- 3 times Winner of European Acro Cup
- 2 times Winner of Contest Eurotour Acro Glider
Sponsors: Krill-Model-Aircraft, 3W, Graupner, Powerbox, BMB-mufflers, Mejclik-propeller, AXI-modelmotors
Accomplishments:
- 3rd XFC 2006
- 2nd XFC 2007
- 1st Freestyle TAS 2007
- 2nd ETOC 2007, 5th ETOC 2008
- 3rd German AcroMasters 2006, 1st German AcroMasters Freestyle
- 1st European XFC 2007
- 3 times Winner of European Acro Cup
- 2 times Winner of Contest Eurotour Acro Glider
Sponsors: Krill-Model-Aircraft, 3W, Graupner, Powerbox, BMB-mufflers, Mejclik-propeller, AXI-modelmotors
Andrew Jesky - Fourth Place
Hometown: Monroe, Michigan
Accomplishments:
- 2 time AMA National Champion in Advanced and Masters Class in Precision Aerobatics
- 2005 XFC Champion
- 4 time F3A National Championship Finalist
- 2007 3rd place F3A Nationals and 8th place F3A World Championships
- 2008 ETOC Champion
- 2008 Futaba XFC Champion
Sponsors: Futaba, Composite-ARF, Shulman Aviation, Desert Aircraft, Powerbox Systems, Aero-Models/Hacker Motors, Thunder Power, 3D HobbyShop, Mercury Adhesives, SWB, RC-Groups, and Tru-Turn
Accomplishments:
- 2 time AMA National Champion in Advanced and Masters Class in Precision Aerobatics
- 2005 XFC Champion
- 4 time F3A National Championship Finalist
- 2007 3rd place F3A Nationals and 8th place F3A World Championships
- 2008 ETOC Champion
- 2008 Futaba XFC Champion
Sponsors: Futaba, Composite-ARF, Shulman Aviation, Desert Aircraft, Powerbox Systems, Aero-Models/Hacker Motors, Thunder Power, 3D HobbyShop, Mercury Adhesives, SWB, RC-Groups, and Tru-Turn
Qui Que Somenzini - Fifth Place
Hometown: Ohio
Accomplishments:
- Current F3A World Champion
- 4 Times TOC Champion
- 3 Times Don Lowe Masters Champion
- 2 Times Tucson Aerobatic Shootout Freestyle Champion
- XFC Champion
- 4 Times US National F3A Champion
- Free Style World Champion
- 3 times runner up Tucson Shoot Out precision championship
Sponsors: Horizon Hobby, JR Radio, Spektrum, E-flite, Desert Aircraft, Duralite, TruTurn, Zurich, ZAP, Greeve Tuned Pipes and Kirby's Kustom VinylGraphics
Accomplishments:
- Current F3A World Champion
- 4 Times TOC Champion
- 3 Times Don Lowe Masters Champion
- 2 Times Tucson Aerobatic Shootout Freestyle Champion
- XFC Champion
- 4 Times US National F3A Champion
- Free Style World Champion
- 3 times runner up Tucson Shoot Out precision championship
Sponsors: Horizon Hobby, JR Radio, Spektrum, E-flite, Desert Aircraft, Duralite, TruTurn, Zurich, ZAP, Greeve Tuned Pipes and Kirby's Kustom VinylGraphics
Kurt Koelling - Sixth Place
Hometown: Powell, Ohio
Accomplishments:
- 2007 IMAC Unlimited National Champion
- 2007 Canadian IMAC Unlimited National Champion
- 2001 IMAC Sportsman National Champion
- 3 time Tucson Shootout Invitational class competitor
- 3 time Don Lowe Masters competitor
- XFC Extreme Flight Championships competitor
- winner of over 80 IMAC competitions in the past 7 years
Sponsors: Futaba, Hobbico, Desert Aircraft, Carden Aircraft, Cam McCausey Competition Aircraft, Fromeco, Sure-Link Custom Control Systems, TME smoke systems
Accomplishments:
- 2007 IMAC Unlimited National Champion
- 2007 Canadian IMAC Unlimited National Champion
- 2001 IMAC Sportsman National Champion
- 3 time Tucson Shootout Invitational class competitor
- 3 time Don Lowe Masters competitor
- XFC Extreme Flight Championships competitor
- winner of over 80 IMAC competitions in the past 7 years
Sponsors: Futaba, Hobbico, Desert Aircraft, Carden Aircraft, Cam McCausey Competition Aircraft, Fromeco, Sure-Link Custom Control Systems, TME smoke systems
David Moser - Seventh Place
Hometown: West Palm Beach, Florida
Accomplishments:
- 2007 Regional Champion Unlimited
- 2007 3rd place US Nationals
- 2006 JR Challenge Champion
- 2006 Regional Champion Unlimited
- 2006 8th place Don Lowe Masters
- 2003 Advanced National Champion
- 2002 Nationals Runner-up Advanced
- 2001 Nationals Runner-up Sportsman
Sponsors: JR/ Horizon Hobbies, 3W/ Aircraft International, Tru-turn, Fisher-Fuel Products, Powerbox Flight Systems, Cutting-Edge Graphics, Sew-Busy Embroidery, Duralite Batteries, Thunder power, Quique Aircraft Co, Zurich
Accomplishments:
- 2007 Regional Champion Unlimited
- 2007 3rd place US Nationals
- 2006 JR Challenge Champion
- 2006 Regional Champion Unlimited
- 2006 8th place Don Lowe Masters
- 2003 Advanced National Champion
- 2002 Nationals Runner-up Advanced
- 2001 Nationals Runner-up Sportsman
Sponsors: JR/ Horizon Hobbies, 3W/ Aircraft International, Tru-turn, Fisher-Fuel Products, Powerbox Flight Systems, Cutting-Edge Graphics, Sew-Busy Embroidery, Duralite Batteries, Thunder power, Quique Aircraft Co, Zurich
And the story went like this -
We had a total of twelve pilots competing in the Invitational Class, and forty more pilots competing in 4 of the 5 IMAC classes! Careful planning and praying that the weather co-operated with us was an everyday thing. A couple of mornings we had some delays, and cost a round of flying overall in the IMAC classes. Emphasis was placed on the Invitational Class, and nobody seemed to mind loosing the round of flying; after all...how often do you get to witness world class flying about 100 feet away from where you are sitting!
For a lot of the IMAC pilots this was a first for them, to walk the flight line along with famous people they have only read about in magazines and witnessed their flying on the internet or from DVD's. They quickly found that a lot (if not all) of the Invitational Pilots were very approachable. Some of the Invitational Pilots even offered to judge a round or two of the IMAC classes - no pressure there guys, huh? Speaking of judges; Wayne Matthews, Chief Judge and Cooridnater, had gathered some well experienced judges for the Invitational Class. You can read more about these judges and a little history about their background by clicking HERE.
Overall the event went really, really well. We had the support from nearby neighbors of John and Tina, as well as their close friends from Florida. Mind you, that most of them were there a week ahead of time getting the place ready for the event. There were a lot of things done to accomplish such a task and people that worked tirelessly so that others didnt have to. I am here to say,on behalf of all the CCA staff and pilots, we THANK YOU - you know who you are! We couldnt have done it with out you!
You can see the other contestants in the Invitational Class HERE, and you can find all of the IMAC pilots and their scores by clicking HERE.
There were two magazine artciles done on this event and can be found at the following links and hopefully you will buy a copy as this event is the first of many to come. Thanks to Wil Beyers of RC Sport Flyer and Jerry Smith of Model Aviation for there on sight support!
Another 'BIG' Thank You, goes out to all of our sponsors of the event, we hope to gain their support at the next CCA Invitational!
For a lot of the IMAC pilots this was a first for them, to walk the flight line along with famous people they have only read about in magazines and witnessed their flying on the internet or from DVD's. They quickly found that a lot (if not all) of the Invitational Pilots were very approachable. Some of the Invitational Pilots even offered to judge a round or two of the IMAC classes - no pressure there guys, huh? Speaking of judges; Wayne Matthews, Chief Judge and Cooridnater, had gathered some well experienced judges for the Invitational Class. You can read more about these judges and a little history about their background by clicking HERE.
Overall the event went really, really well. We had the support from nearby neighbors of John and Tina, as well as their close friends from Florida. Mind you, that most of them were there a week ahead of time getting the place ready for the event. There were a lot of things done to accomplish such a task and people that worked tirelessly so that others didnt have to. I am here to say,on behalf of all the CCA staff and pilots, we THANK YOU - you know who you are! We couldnt have done it with out you!
You can see the other contestants in the Invitational Class HERE, and you can find all of the IMAC pilots and their scores by clicking HERE.
There were two magazine artciles done on this event and can be found at the following links and hopefully you will buy a copy as this event is the first of many to come. Thanks to Wil Beyers of RC Sport Flyer and Jerry Smith of Model Aviation for there on sight support!
Another 'BIG' Thank You, goes out to all of our sponsors of the event, we hope to gain their support at the next CCA Invitational!
