Reva Patrol – English version

History

A former pilot in the French Air Force, lieutenant-colonel Réal Weber has a total of 5,8OO flying hours, among which nearly 4,000 on all types of Mirage. « Aeronautics and piloting are a real passion », he explains. Thus in 1983 he decides to build his own plane in order to keep an activity for his retirement. He draws his inspiration from the blueprints of ‘Variez’, an aircraft created by Burt Rutan, a NASA aerodynamics engineer, but gives it many improvements. After 2 years and 4,000 hours of work, his ‘baby’ is born. He nicknames it ‘ l’Acroez ‘ and obtains its homologation.Its technical characteristics, notably its duck shape, makes it a real aerobatics plane.  » In certain phases of flight its resembles Mirage III, a plane in which I evolved during my military career ». The plane is conceived like a fighter aircraft ». Weber then starts his first flights.  » My initial project was to travel and, above all, to take part on solo flight shows. » Yet, due to an increasing interest from the public, he rapidly turned to sports competition. Because he is really concerned about presenting a beautiful show, and in order to achieve his project, Réal Weber has decided to create a patrol of stunt flying. The association REVA was founded in 1992 on the airfield of Colmar-Houssen. The purchase of a second plane allowed the project to take shape.Thus, in 1993, on Alsatian ground,the first stunt patrol on Acroez in the world was born

The Acroez receives back-up from Lieutenant-colonel Michel Coste, also a former air-force pilot from the fighter squad 2/13 « Alpes » at the air base 132 in Colmar. The REVA patrol can then take its real flight. Although such an adventure was known only by air stunt fans, it actually began in 1985. At tat time Réal Weber certainly did not imagine to meet such a success. He participates in many airshows in France and abroad. Unknown at its beginning the patrol progressively builds up a name in the world of stunt. There is a growing interest for these two pilots from people who enjoy stunt flying.

And it is not a hunting accident in 1994, causing Lieutenant-colonel Weber to stop his activities for one year, that dampened their motivation. During the following years the patrol trained relentlessly to propose a harmonious programme. It beefs up with a third aircraft and the arrival of 2 more pilots, commandants Alain Amiot and Daniel Gendreau. Both are also fighter pilots who bring their experience and competence. These 4 experts in aerobatics devote all their time to their training and the maintenance of the ‘ Acroez ‘. They are driven by their passion. Lieutenant-colonel Weber was probably dreaming when he embarked on this wild adventure.Today his dream has come true. The patrol is based on Colmar-Houssen airfield and has at its disposal a hangar to shelter and maintain its airplanes.

The planes : THE ACROEZ

The Acroez is a two-seat airplane, duck-shape type,with a propellent engine. Its structure is made of glass fiber (90%) and carbon kevlar (10%), allowing it to bear accelerations of more or less 12 G. Its winglets (vertical surfaces at the extremity of wings) enable it to gain speed thanks to a better penetration in air and provide it with a better stability during turns. The Acroez is a very light plane. Its slimness is 22, meaning that in case of engine breakdown at an altitude of 1,000 meters, it can air glide on 22 km.

PERFORMANCES

Engine: 150 CV
Consumption: 25 liters/hour (30 liters in stunts)
Maximum speed: 380 km/hour
Autonomy: 1,400 km
Span: 6,70 m
Length: 4,90 m
Climbing to 4,000m in 12 minutes

THREE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION

1 – Close formation take-off (weather permitting) and In trail flypast,

2 – Wing over, parallel to the public loop,

3 – Horizontal 180° left turn in triangle formation,

4 – Turn to face the public, Crossover split,

5 – Individual come back parallel to the centre line, 180 out crossing and turn.Rejoin,

6 – Crossed ring in trail loop parallel to the centre line,

7 – Come back 45° offset to the centre line, Barrel roll,

8 – Wing over to face the public, split in the pull up, half way pull through, Rejoin,

9 – Come back parallel for an, in sequence individual barrel roll, Rejoin,

10 – Turn to face the public, Triangle loop,

11 – Simultaneous and line abreast hammerhead, Split,

12 – Rejoin by a simultaneous, leader loop and wingies half cubain,

13 – Outbound loop, Split on the way down,

14 – Come back parallel to the centre line, opposition loop parallel to the public, Rejoin,

15 – HEART and his love arrow, Rejoin for trail formation,

16 – Last in trail flypast and Close formation landing (weather permitting).

TWO AIRCRAFT FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION 

Close formation take-off (weather permitting)

In trail flypast,

Wing over, parallel to the public loop,

Horizontal 180° left turn in close line abreast formation,

Turn to face the public, Crossover split, 
Individual come back parallel to the centre line, 180 out crossing and turn. Rejoin,

Crossed ring in trail loop parallel to the centre line,

Come back 45° offset to the centre line, barrel roll,

Wing over to face the public, split in the pull up, half way pull through, Rejoin,

Come back parallel for a close formation barrel roll, Rejoin,

Turn to face the public, line abreast loop,

Simultaneous and line abreast hammerhead, rejoin, left wing over,

Outbound loop, split on the way down,

Come back parallel to the centre line, opposition loop parallel to the public, Rejoin,

HEART, rejoin for trail formation,

Last in trail flypast,

Close formation landing (weather permitting).