Frank Versteegh

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.

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

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 a German buyer. He flew back in a newly acquired Zlin 50 LS which had been Manfred Strossenreuther's prior to his death near Teuge in the Netherlands. In this aircraft, Versteegh won 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 to make a touch and go in an Extra 300L (D-EZOZ) on a 70-meter-long river freighter. He performed the feat on the Rhine at Rhenen in his home country. 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 mascot. 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
1987
1989
1990
1991
1992
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

References
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