Vitaly Robertus of Moscow started building and flying rubber powered model airplanes when he was seven years old. He graduated to gas models and flew control line for a time, winning many control line competitions. Later, he got into flying radio control model airplanes. If you look at his work, it is easy to believe he was an excellent student, graduating at the top of his class in all his academic pursuits. Now an engineer, he helped found the Moscow model airplane club, called RusJet.
In 2011, he competed in the Jet World Master's competition in Dayton, Ohio. The Jet World Master's has two classes of competition: 13.5 kg maximum weight and 20 kg maximum weight (including fuel). Vitaly brought a beautiful scale model of the Yak-130 advanced jet trainer. The detailing was so good, it blew the competition away in its class. When it came to the static judging, the judging was not even close. There was now a new bar set on what would be required for a model builder to win the Jet World Masters competition. Vitaly Robertus took his trophy and winning model back home to Moscow. Being a pretty smart guy, he knew he now had a large target painted on him by every serious model builder in the world.
More over the orange wake turbulence.
His response was to not plan on bringing his winning model back to the next competition in 2013. He had two years to get ready. He used every minute of it. He did a complete redesign of the Yak-130 model with even more attention to detail.
The Meiringen Air Base in Switzerland hosted the 10th Jet World Masters Championship in August 2013. A total of 64 pilot/builders from around the world competed. Forty-six competitors entered the 20 kg class, and eighteen in the 13.5 kg class.
An estimated 20,000 spectators showed up. It was ten days of eye candy for aviation enthusiasts and model builders, with a backdrop of spectacular alpine scenery.
The next Jet World Masters will be held in 2015 at an airfield in Germany. I can hardly wait to see what Vitaly Robertus and his friends at the RusJet club come up with next time.
Now, what you have been waiting for. Vitaly Robertus' prize winning Yak-130.
Ultimate Accuracy is a full-length documentary on the builder and his 2011 prize winning airplane. Running time is 47 minutes.