'A big tree has fallen'  John Gaillard 1945 - 2022

If you have attended an Aerobatic championship in South Africa, or indeed even a world championship at any time from 1970s right up to this year, then chances are that you would have seen, and certainty noticed John Louis Gaillard.   

If you were a competitor, a judge, an official, or an enthusiastic spectator taking part in, or simply enjoying a championship then you would have experienced much of the broad, colourful and larger than life kaleidoscope that was the legendary John Gaillard.   

There is always a palpable tension before any contest, this is experienced by both rookie competitors and seasoned veterans.  John once a competitor himself understood this natural anxiety, and true to his empathetic warm self would always been seen before a contest sharing a joke over coffee, making contestants and novice judges alike feel at ease, he worked tirelessly to recruit and train a new generation of judges.   His empathetic, generous, and developmental spirit will be missed.

And when the formalities began John was always the consummate professional.   His pre-contest briefings were always thorough, never once did he slacken whether it be a world championship or a small local contest, he always maintained a high standard.  Safety was a responsibly that he took very seriously.  On the judging line he saved many a pilot from a hazard, by calling them to break-off when an unwary aircraft flew through the aerobatic box unannounced.   His guardianship will be missed.

As a Contest Director, a Judge, a Jury member and as the Chief Judge a role he held both in South Africa and Internationally for many years, John developed a reputation as a knowledgeable, firm and fair official.  Never scared to make a controversial call once he was certain of the facts.  His professionalism and fair judgment will be missed.

And after the days flying John was always found sharing a drink and a story with competitors, officials, and enthusiasts, always with his trademark mischievous grin and a twinkle in his eye.  His warm humour, camaraderie and friendship will be missed.

But there was more to John.  Many who served with him on the Sport Aerobatic Club committee will remember him as the eternal optimist, he loved the club, and was dedicated to it.  In both tough times and in good, John was the guiding light and the foundation that lifted the club when it needed lifting and encouraged us to achieve things, we never thought possible.  John was a dreamer who achieved great things and encouraged those around him to do the same. John chaired the South African Sport Aerobatic club for several years.

In 2018 John was awarded the highly coveted Lifetime Achievement award by the Aeroclub of South Africa.   Part of his citation is quoted below; it summarises his incomparable contribution to aerobatics.

John Louis Gaillard had been involved with aerobatics since the 1970s.

He initially competed in a Stampe Biplane, and was sufficiently fortunate (and skilful) to have survived a catastrophic engine failure after take-off at the old Baragwaneth aerodrome.  Not deterred by this experience, John continued to play a very active and leading role in aerobatics for the rest of his life.   

By the 1980s John had captained the South Africa team at several world championships.  He also became very proficient at judging local contests and was soon invited to judge at international events.   

A particularly testing moment occurred internationally when John called a zero score for an incorrectly flown figure by a very popular leading pilot, none of the other judges saw the error and hence all scored the pilot highly, this made John even more unpopular.  
Even under significant pressure as still novice judge back then, John refused to back down on what he saw to be true.  A subsequent review of the video recording proved John to be correct.   From this moment Johns reputation as a fair and precise judge grew enormously and he was soon appointed as the World Chief Judge for many world Championships.  A post he was again asked to hold at the 2022 World Aerobatic Championships in Poland.   His declining health meant he had to turn down this coveted role only a few weeks ago.

So well regarded was John across the world, that he is often invited to be the Chief Judge at the National Championships of other countries, as well as to train their judges.  John judged aerobatics across North America, South America, throughout West, Central and Eastern Europe, China, Australia and of course in South Africa.

In addition to judging, John was also the South African representative on CIVA, the FAI body responsible for overseeing aerobatics internationally.  At the time of passing, he was world Vice Chairman.

John pioneered two world firsts in aerobatics, both of which have gone on to become popular fixed events in the international aerobatics calendar.  Prior to 1995, international aerobatic competition only occurred at the Unlimited level.  John pioneered the very first international contest at the Advanced level which was hosted in Cape Town in 1995.  The Advanced class have been competing internationally ever since.   

And again in 2013 John again pioneered the first international contest at the Intermediate level which was again organised by John and successfully hosted in Mossel Bay.   To top this all John was the initiator and Contest Director at the successful 2017 Unlimited Aerobatics Contest held last year in Malelane, a first for South Africa.

Despite his achievements and international recognition, John always remained humble, and always enjoyed the sport for its own sake.   Up until a few weeks before his passing he could be found judging and enjoying small local contests, as well as coaching junior pilots.   

John participated in Sport Aerobatics from all perspectives, as a competing pilot, as a judge, as an organiser and as an official.  He is probably one of the most recognised and long-standing names in aerobatics, and there can be no doubt that a large part of the success and stature that South Africa has achieved in world aerobatics can be accredited to John Gaillard.   

Never scared of confrontation, John was respected for his research, foresight, fairness and wisdom in addressing areas that others steer clear of and welcome his input.

We offer our sincere condolences to his family and to Jenny, and we remind her that she will always have a large extended family at the Sport Aerobatic Club, and there will always be a place for her as an official at our contests in future.

We will all miss John greatly and we will remember him with much fondness, and we will no doubt speak well of him very often.   

None of us will forget his voice on the radio

“this is the Chief Judge, change frequency to 129.3 and call - over”

Aerobatic Box is now yours Chief Judge, have a good flight and don’t forget to wag your wings …Over!