FAI World Helicopter Championship in Minsk

Belarus is hosting the World Helicopter Championship for the second time. In 1978, the competition took place at a Vitebsk-based aero club of the DOSAAF (Volunteer Society of Assistance for Army, Aircraft and Fleet). This time the venue is the capital city: the main events are running at the Borovaya airfield while the opening ceremony was held at the Lipki airfield on 24 July.

“I am confident that a new generation of Belarusian pilots will continue conquering the ‘fifth ocean’ and will do well representing their country at international competitions,” Belarus Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov said as he addressed the opening ceremony of the 16th FAI World Helicopter Championship. By the way, this time Belarusian aviators are among the favorites of the tournament. At the previous championship in Poland Belarusian pilots demonstrated a high level of skill winning silver medals and three Belarusian pilots made it to the world’s top 10 helicopter pilots. This year the team has won its first gold in one of the most difficult disciplines. The crew of Vitebsk-based aero club (pilot Vladimir Bugaev and operator Andrei Rogonov) were victorious in fender rigging.

A lot of distinguished guests attended the 16th FAI World Helicopter Championship in Minsk. Among them were first Belarusian cosmonaut, two-time Hero of the Soviet Union Pyotr Klimuk, Hero of Russia, pilot-cosmonaut, native of Belarus Oleg Novitsky, famous TV host and keen pilot third class Leonid Yakubovich, and biathlon legends Darya Domracheva and Ole Einar Bjoerndalen.

This year 38 teams from seven countries are competing for the champion title. The Belarusian national team includes outstanding athletes: masters of sports of the international class Andrei Rogonov, Vladimir Bugayev, Nikita Laptev, Vladimir Striyenok, Anton Danchenko, Alexander Grishchenko, Aleksei Mochansky. The women's team is represented by two crews: commander Sofia Kurshubadze and pilot-operator Anastasia Korotkevich, and commander Anna Rogozhinskaya and pilot-operator Marina Konyushevskaya.

The FAI World Helicopter Championship includes the annual aviation festival # PRONEBO. The program features the 4th stage of the Helicopter World Cup, parachuting competitions, a drone-racing cup and a spectacular aircraft show, including balloons, modern helicopters and drones.

The 16th FAI World Helicopter Championship in our photo report!