Unique Helitow of the SZD-59-1 ACRO

Our aerobatic glider SZD-59-1 ACRO was part of a unique moment in the Antidotum Airshow Leszno! The historic helitow was performed by glider pilot Guy Westgate in a SZD-59-1 and helipilot Maciej Dominiak in a Bökow Bo 105 (bo105.pl) with Gliderfx on June 21 and 22, 2024.

This drone footage from Antek Daczka with Gliderfx brings you closer to the SZD-59-1 ACRO in aerobatic action.

Four years of planning and constant communication with the Polish Civil Aviation Authority led to this unique flight. The method, the special tow-rope, the aerobatic glider and the helicopter were reviewed and approved in advance by the ULC (Urzad Lotnictwa Cywilnego) in advance.

SZD-59-1 ACRO is hovering below the standing helicopter beside the drone. (Photo: Krzysztof Wilma)

Moment of release at 1000 feet. Aerobatic Pilot Guy Westgate in the cockpit of the SZD-59-1 ACRO. (Photo: Krzysztof Wilma)

It was the first time that a roll on tow has been performed in public behind a helicopter. The glider pilot Guy Westgate is eight times British National Gliding aerobatic champion and holds the world record for the most number of consecutive roles while on aero tow. After the first sequence of rolling, Guy Westgate continued the flight by hovering below the standing helicopter in a height of 1000 feet and finished it with an aerobatic performance.

Moment of release at 1000 feet. (Photo: Krzysztof Wilma) Aerobatic Pilot Guy Westgate in the cockpit of the SZD-59-1 ACRO.

The Bökow Bo 105 and SZD-59-1 take-off at the Antidotum Airshow 2024 (Photo: Krzysztof Wilma)

Adam Landau and Luke Carrico from PlanesTV give us an inside look into the preparation of the helitow while commenting live during the Antidotum Airshow. One key element is the special tow-rope, which was used for a helicopter stunt in the James Bond film “Spectre” in 2015. In Addition, a lot of flight calculation and engineering on the rope were required before the training flights with the SZD-59-1 and the Bökow Bo 105.

Adam and Luke highlight as well the particularly challenging phases of this flight, which the aerobatic duo of Guy Westgate and Maciej Dominiak must tackle precisely together. For example is the aerodynamic behind a helicopter different to the one behind a towing plane for a rolling glider. During the transition from flying behind the helicopter into hovering below him, the glider must not stall, and the tow-rope need to be tight any time. While hovering, Guy keeps the glider slightly upside down. The vertical position of the glider makes it difficult for Guy to realise the glider from the tow-rope to end the performance with aerobatics.

Excerpt of the helitow in the Livestream Antidotum Airshow by PlanesTV.com

This unique aerobatic flight of the SZD-59-1 ACRO was made possible by immense work, planning and training of the team behind the Antidotum Airshow Leszno, the aerobatic team Gliderfx / aerosparx and bo105.pl.

www.antidotumairshow.pl | www.aerosparx.com | www.bo105.pl

SZD-59-1 with remarkable red smoke vortices during hovering below the helicopter. (Photo: Krzysztof Wilma)