Healthy Bastards Bush Pilots Champs 2016

The 2016 edition of the Healthy Bastards Bush Pilots Championships was held at Omaka on Friday and Saturday 5th and 6th February.  This annual event has gained in popularity over the years and this year 36 planes completed with one, Marlborough Aero Club's Piper Cub ZK-ERB being flown by six different pilots (not at the same time!).  This event is run by the Marlborough Aero Club and the major sponsor is Dr Dave Baldwin of the Bulls Flying Doctor Service.

The STOL competition is divided into three classes, for ultralights (under 1,325 pounds MAUW), Light touring aircraft (1,325 to 2,550 pounds MAUW) and heavy touring aircraft (of more than 2,550 pounds MAUW).  And there is also a spot landing competition.

Thanks very much to Planefil for the photos.

The ultralight class has been dominated in the past by Zenith CH 701s, but this year Bruce Clulow from Wanaka in his Carbon Cub ZK-PBC2 edged out Chris Anderson in his Zenith CH 701 STOL ZK-TIA.  Bruce's distance was made up of a shortest take off 13.1 m plus a shortest landing 29.0 m for a total of 42.1 metres.  At 598 Kg MAUW and with 180 HP the Carbon Cub has a great power to weight ratio.

The light touring class was won by Craig Anderson from Picton, flying his modified PA 20-180 Pacer ZK-BSH.  Craig is chief pilot for Sounds Air.  His distance was made up of a shortest take off 31.0 m plus a shortest landing 49.1 m for a total of 80.1 metres.

The heavy touring class was won by Scott Madsen from Blenheim flying his early model Cessna 180B ZK-BMW with 230 HP. His distance was made up of a shortest take off 48.1 m plus a shortest landing 33.0 m for a total of 81.1 metres.  

And the spot landing was won by Russell Young from Blenheim flying his Piper PA 28-180 Cherokee ZK-SNE.  This is his winning landing where he touched the mainwheels down 0.6 metres past the line!