Frank Versteegh

Frank Versteegh
Frank Versteegh with his Extra 300L aircraft at Helsinki-Malmi airport
Born	(1954-09-19) September 19, 1954
Nationality	Dutch
Website	aerobatics.nl

Frank Versteegh (born 19 September 1954) is a Dutch aerobatics pilot. He is also an airshow organiser, a flight safety committee member, a FAI judge and a freestyle aerobatics competitor.

Versteegh was born in Oosterbeek, the Netherlands and started his flying career in 1972 at the age of 18. Between 1982 and 1994, he competed in European and World Championships. During his career, he flew in over 1,250 aerobatic displays at major aviation events all over the world, using over 160 different types of aircraft.

He flew his first display in a Cessna 150 aerobat in 1983. Between 1987 and 1989, he flew in the Pitts S-2S G-SOLO, which also flew in the Rothmanns team as a solo aircraft. In 1989, the Pitts was sold to Germany. He flew back in his new aircraft, the Zlin 50 LS, which he overtook from Manfred Strossenreuther, who died in earlier that year towards Teuge in the Netherlands. In this aircraft, Versteegh managed to win the Open Dutch National Unlimited Aerobatic Championship in that same year.

His sponsor "Shake 20" made it possible to purchase his new Extra 300, a mid-wing composite mono-plane. Versteegh flew three years in this plane under a Shake 20 license, but changed to a new sponsor "Volny" in 1995. During 1996, Volny made it possible to purchase his current airplane, the Extra 300L. In July 1997, he was the first pilot ever making a touch and go with an Extra 300L (D-EZOZ) on a 70-meter-long river freighter in the Rhine at Rhenen in his home country. This was unique because during the landing in the Extra 300L, the pilot is unable to see the landing gear and therefore unable to see the ship, while flying over with 150 km/h. Versteegh only had 1.5 seconds to land the aircraft on the boat due to the approaching speed of 80 knots. The stunt took place during an airshow which was attended by 50,000 spectators.

After participating in the FAI World Cup of Aerobatics for three years, he specialized in freestyle aerobatics and skydancing. Currently, Versteegh is one of the selected pilots in the Red Bull Air Race World Series, already participating since the event started in 2003. He was, however, unable to score any points in the 2005 and 2006 series finishing in 8th and 11th position.

Versteegh has a Jack Russell Terrier called "Joe the Co", who is known as his mascotte and co-pilot. Joe the Co was born on 12 July 1996 and has been flying alongside Versteegh in the Extra 300L, the Bücker "Jungmann", Robinson R44, A-26 Invader and many other aircraft. The dog joins Versteegh in most of his airshows.

Competitions and tournaments

1982–1994

• Dutch Aerobatic Champion

1985

• South African Masters La Mercy, Durban, South Africa

1987

• Eurobatics Speichersdorf, Germany

1989

• Masters Palaborwa, South Africa
• Eurobatics Becescaba, Hungary

1990

• Masters Ocaña, Spain
• World Championship, Yverdon, Switzerland

1991

• International Masters of Aerobatics, Argentina
• Eurobatics, Toulouse, France

1992

• World Championship, Le Havre, France

1993

Contest director World Glider Aerobatic Championship, Venlo, Netherlands

• Breitling World Cup of Aerobatics

1998

• Freestyle Cup Sassuolo, Italy (Winner of the Reggiani Freestyle Cup)

2000

• Freestyle Cup Milano Bresso, Italy (Silver medal)

2002

• Italian Free Style Championship Sassuolo (Second position)

2003

• Melilla Masters, Spain and Morocco
• Italy Reggiani Trophy (Fourth position)

2006

• Italian Freestyle championships (First position)

Frank Versteegh at the Red Bull Air Race World Series
Year	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Points	Wins	Rank
2004	5th	6th	DNS										3	0	6th
2005	8th	8th	8th	7th	8th	DNS	8th						0	0	8th
2006	10th	11th	10th	CAN	10th	DQ	10th	DQ	11th				0	0	11th
2007	6th	10th	6th	6th	CAN	9th	8th	8th	11th	12th	CAN	12th	3	0	11th

Legend:

• CAN: Cancelled
• DNP: Did not participate
• DNS: Did not show
• DQ: Disqualified
• NC: Not classified

See also

• Competition aerobatics

References

• Official website
• Red Bull Air Race World Series official website