Press Release – 6 October 2022
Event/News:
Brit Ace Mark Jefferies returns to Avalon
British aerobatic champion Mark Jefferies is set to return to Australia to put on a series of sensational world-class air displays at the 2023 Australian International Airshow in Avalon. The Awesome Global Stars team previously displayed in the 2013 and 2015 shows and will now bring the most advanced aerobatic display aircraft in the world to the show, the Awesome Extra NG. The Awesome Extra NG is the first of its type to display at the Airshow and, in the hands of Mark, will put on a spectacular display combining unlimited aerobatics, smoke and noise! The highly acclaimed international aerobatic display pilot has achieved great success and worldwide recognition as one of the world’s most accomplished aerobatic display aviators and his many titles include 3rd place in the 2011 World Aerobatic Masters, ranked 10th in the World 2009, and 10 times British aerobatic champion (Advanced and Unlimited Class). Mark will bring his particular style of air display to the show, performing many of his signature manoeuvres including tumbles, painting love hearts in the sky and seemingly defying the principles of flight.
About Mark Jefferies:
Mark has been the British National Aerobatic champion at all levels over nearly three decades and a British Aerobatic team member 10 times. Mark started flying air displays in 1984 and has flown shows in numerous aircraft around Europe and has flown by invitation in Australia, New Zealand, Romania, Slovenia, Germany, Holland, Turkey, Switzerland, France, Spain, South Africa, Ireland, Iceland, China, Korea, Scotland, Wales, Bahrain, Dubai, UAE, and Malta. Mark has flown previously at the Farnborough Air Show in 2010 and was invited back again to fly in the 2012, and 2014 shows. Mark first flew at Avalon in 1997 and thoroughly enjoyed every visit since.
He holds an EASA commercial pilots licence with a Display Authorisation issued by the UK CAA. Formation qualified as leader of large formations, flying with the Aerostars for 4 years in number 2, 4, 6 & 7 positions, he now leads his own team the “Global Stars”. Mark has also flown as a stunt pilot for films, as well as participating in the Aero-GP series contests.
Mark took up flying aerobatics immediately after he got his PPL in December 1980. His first contest was in 1984; in 1985 he entered 6 contests which saw 5 wins, including the UK Nationals in a 1936 designed Bucker Jungmann that Mark rebuilt from a pile of parts obtained from the Spanish Airforce. In a quest for performance and the ability to enter at the higher levels, he built a Laser 200 which enabled a win in the Unlimited Class at the UK Aerobatic Nationals in 1994. He is the only person in UK aerobatics to have built and flown his own aircraft to the ultimate goal, winning the national title in the Advanced and Unlimited classes. He has been national UK Aerobatic champion at all levels on 10 occasions.
Flying his homebuilt Laser 200 he became the British Unlimited Champion in 1994, retiring, and then coming back to aerobatics in 1998. Mark won the Advanced National Champion crown for five straight years from 1998 to 2002. Mark won a bronze medal and a podium appearance for his 3rd place in the Advanced World Aerobatics Championships held in Slovenia in August 2002. He flies many types of aircraft, notably from the Russian YAK series and the German Extra series. Mark returned to Unlimited aerobatics after purchasing the EXTRA 300s in 2003 winning the UK National championships in 2005, 2006 and 2007. In 2007 Mark flew to 9th place in the World Aerobatic championships in Granada, Spain, in the Extra 300s. Mark flies air shows on most weekends throughout the summer in a selection of aircraft, namely the Extra 330SC, YAK 11, L-29 jet & YAK 50. Prior to visiting Avalon, Mark is taking his team to display at the Bahrain International Air Show (BIAS) in November 2022 and then later in 2023 Mark will be flying in Langkawi in May at LIMA 2023.
Mark will be flying the Awesome Extra NG in his Awesome Global Stars display at the Australian International Airshow from the 28th of February until the 5th of March 2023.
Quotes:
Mark Jefferies:
“I am thrilled to be returning to Australia for the Awesome Global Stars display at the Avalon Airshow in 2023. This particularly as I will be flying in the cutting edge Awesome Extra NG, Extra’s best offering yet, and I can’t wait to display in front of the Australian crowds again!”
A spokesperson for Awesome Aviation said:
“We are very excited to have Mark return to Australia to fly the Awesome Extra NG in the Awesome Global Stars display at the Australian International Airshow in 2023. Mark is a super-talented aerobatic pilot and he is sure to once again wow the crowds at Avalon.”
The Aircraft:
Awesome Aviation sponsors the cutting-edge Awesome Extra NG aerobatic aircraft, promoting Awesome Aviation’s leasing products to the aviation industry. The Awesome Extra NG was the first of its type to be imported into Australia and it is the most advanced aerobatic display aircraft in the world. The Awesome Extra NG features an all-carbon rigid base frame – another first in aerobatic aviation history – which offers exceptional unlimited aerobatic performance. Powered by the Lycoming AEIO-580-B1A, 315 hp, 6 cylinder engine, the aircraft is designed for maximum pilot comfort and equipped with state-of-the-art avionics. Improved aerodynamics permit an even higher degree of maneuverability and precise handling while also making the Awesome Extra NG a “really fast” aircraft.
The Extra brand name has long been synonymous with high standards in providing aerobatic aircraft owners with real next generation technology. The NG represents the next step in Extra Aircraft’s 40+ year tradition of experience and innovation.
About Awesome Aviation:
Awesome Aviation supplies Beechcraft 1900 Airliners on dry lease within Australia, the Middle-East and Africa. Clients include regional airlines and Operators involved with Charter, Humanitarian Aid, Special Missions, Air Ambulance, Government and FIFO markets. Awesome Aviation has offices at Perth International Airport, WA and Johannesburg, SA. A particular focus for Awesome Aviation is aerobatics. We love the cutting edge of aerobatics as it creates great “Wow!” moments. It is a highly effective brand awareness platform and it taps into a really cool and exciting side of aviation. The Awesome Global Stars team is sponsored by Awesome Aviation and it is the company’s tumbling billboard of the sky. It injects a vibrant energy into the company and aerobatics is certainly in the company’s DNA.
We are very excited to announce the Extra NG aircraft. The Extra NG was unveiled at Oshkosh in July 2019 as a new, all composite, technically advanced and innovative aircraft type. The Awesome Extra NG VH-XEO, serial no NG007, is the first of this type to be imported into Australia, and arrived in September 2020. The first public viewing took place at the Royal Aero Club’s Open day on 3rd October 2020 at Jandakot Airport, Western Australia where it sparked great interest. The Awesome Extra NG will be flown to various fly-in’s, aviation events and airshows in Australia.
ENDS
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