Jurgis Kairys
Encyclopedia
Jurgis Kairys is a Lithuania
n aerobatic
pilot and aeronautical engineer
. He has won many awards for his flying and has invented several maneuvers, including the "Kairys Wheel." He helped develop the Sukhoi
Su-26
, -29
, and -31
aerobatic aircraft, and also has manufactured his own aerobatic aircraft, called the "Juka."
His most famous stunt is flying inverted under a pedestrian bridge (height 7 meters) over the Nemunas River wash in Kaunas
on September 2, 2000, (nicknamed Ultraflight). He also flew under all bridges over the Neris River in Vilnius
on September 18, 1999, (nicknamed Flight of the Century).
Jurgis Kairys was born in Krasnojarsk, Siberia, on May 6, 1952, where his parents were stationed however the family were able to return to their home country of Lithuania when Jurgis was still a small boy. His interest in flying started at an early age when watching planes landing and taking off at an airstrip near his home in Lithuania. He became an airframe engineer and was able to start flying aerobatics at the Kaunas Flying Club in Lithuania. His talents and determination were obvious and he soon became a member of the elite National team.
The style of acrobatics we see today was developed over twenty years ago by Lithuanians Stepas Arishkevichius and Jurgis competing with each other while on the Soviet team, and coaching each other. Today every unlimited pilot flies in the style promoted by the Lithuanians in the seventies.
His engineering and piloting skills were recognized when he was asked to work with the Sukhoi Design Bureau to develop the Sukhoi 26, 29 and 31 series of completely new aerobatics aircraft using new ideas future to dominate the Unlimited World Aerobatics Championships. This was achieved with the aircraft winning many championships from the European Championships to the World Grand Prix of Aerobatics piloted by Jurgis and the Russian team members. This legacy continues to this date with the Su31 winning again in the 2003 WAC in Lakeland, Florida.
Jurgis' forte has always been Unlimited Freestyle aerobatics which has allowed him to develop his quest for new flight possibilities from himself and his aircraft. He recently flew his own creation in the form of the "Juka" aircraft and has since been fine-tuning this aircraft for future displays and competitions.
He has invented several aerobatics maneuvers including the "Kairys Wheel", "Small Loop" and was the first to successfully perform the "Cobra" maneuver in a propeller driven aircraft, and has the talent to hover his aircraft like a helicopter.
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n aerobatic
Aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
pilot and aeronautical engineer
Aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
. He has won many awards for his flying and has invented several maneuvers, including the "Kairys Wheel." He helped develop the Sukhoi
Sukhoi
Sukhoi Company is a major Russian aircraft manufacturer, headquartered in Begovoy District, Northern Administrative Okrug, Moscow, famous for its fighters...
Su-26
Sukhoi Su-26
|-See also:...
, -29
Sukhoi Su-29
|-See also:-References:*Lambert, Martin. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993-94. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Data Division, 1993. ISBN 0 7106 1066 1....
, and -31
Sukhoi Su-31
|-See also:-External links:*...
aerobatic aircraft, and also has manufactured his own aerobatic aircraft, called the "Juka."
His most famous stunt is flying inverted under a pedestrian bridge (height 7 meters) over the Nemunas River wash in Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
on September 2, 2000, (nicknamed Ultraflight). He also flew under all bridges over the Neris River in Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
on September 18, 1999, (nicknamed Flight of the Century).
Jurgis Kairys was born in Krasnojarsk, Siberia, on May 6, 1952, where his parents were stationed however the family were able to return to their home country of Lithuania when Jurgis was still a small boy. His interest in flying started at an early age when watching planes landing and taking off at an airstrip near his home in Lithuania. He became an airframe engineer and was able to start flying aerobatics at the Kaunas Flying Club in Lithuania. His talents and determination were obvious and he soon became a member of the elite National team.
The style of acrobatics we see today was developed over twenty years ago by Lithuanians Stepas Arishkevichius and Jurgis competing with each other while on the Soviet team, and coaching each other. Today every unlimited pilot flies in the style promoted by the Lithuanians in the seventies.
His engineering and piloting skills were recognized when he was asked to work with the Sukhoi Design Bureau to develop the Sukhoi 26, 29 and 31 series of completely new aerobatics aircraft using new ideas future to dominate the Unlimited World Aerobatics Championships. This was achieved with the aircraft winning many championships from the European Championships to the World Grand Prix of Aerobatics piloted by Jurgis and the Russian team members. This legacy continues to this date with the Su31 winning again in the 2003 WAC in Lakeland, Florida.
Jurgis' forte has always been Unlimited Freestyle aerobatics which has allowed him to develop his quest for new flight possibilities from himself and his aircraft. He recently flew his own creation in the form of the "Juka" aircraft and has since been fine-tuning this aircraft for future displays and competitions.
He has invented several aerobatics maneuvers including the "Kairys Wheel", "Small Loop" and was the first to successfully perform the "Cobra" maneuver in a propeller driven aircraft, and has the talent to hover his aircraft like a helicopter.
External links
- Jurgis Kairys — leader of Airbandits team of aerobatics
- Video of inverted flight under bridge