whifferdill
Line Up and Wait
Just wanted to share a video of a type of flying that is rarely seen on YouTube. Unless you're a hardcore acro nut, everyone else seems more interested in the "airshow" style of flying, and few bother to take decent video of the regular competition program.
This video is of Goody Thomas flying the 2nd Unlimited 'Free Unknown' program at the '14 IAC Nationals. Aircraft is an Extra 330SC. He won this flight, but ended up 3rd overall in the final standings. IMO, Goody's flying is the cleanest of any pilot in the US. Keep in mind this sequence was an "Unknown" flight, meaning the pilots had no opportunity to fly this sequence in practice. You walk through it on the ground, mentally prepare/plan as best you can, and then go do it. No do-overs. The level of focus required is supreme, and it's very easy to make the smallest mistake, or mis-fly a figure in the smallest way. Goody got through this clean. The actual sequence is below, for anyone who can decipher Aresti.
Most may find this style of flying much more 'boring' and unimpressive than all the tumbles and flat spins that you see at air shows, but I guarantee the level of skill and precision displayed here is immense, and MUCH higher than what you see from the average tumble-snap-fest airshow flight. Though there is top-level talent on the airshow circuit, like Rob Holland, Mike Goulian, Patty, and Sean Tucker. All of those folks but Sean are past and current (Rob) IAC Unlimited National Champions. Sean is a past Advanced Nat's Champ. Airshows and competitions are two different worlds, each with unique challenges, but this is just a glimpse of the 'other side'.
This video is of Goody Thomas flying the 2nd Unlimited 'Free Unknown' program at the '14 IAC Nationals. Aircraft is an Extra 330SC. He won this flight, but ended up 3rd overall in the final standings. IMO, Goody's flying is the cleanest of any pilot in the US. Keep in mind this sequence was an "Unknown" flight, meaning the pilots had no opportunity to fly this sequence in practice. You walk through it on the ground, mentally prepare/plan as best you can, and then go do it. No do-overs. The level of focus required is supreme, and it's very easy to make the smallest mistake, or mis-fly a figure in the smallest way. Goody got through this clean. The actual sequence is below, for anyone who can decipher Aresti.
Most may find this style of flying much more 'boring' and unimpressive than all the tumbles and flat spins that you see at air shows, but I guarantee the level of skill and precision displayed here is immense, and MUCH higher than what you see from the average tumble-snap-fest airshow flight. Though there is top-level talent on the airshow circuit, like Rob Holland, Mike Goulian, Patty, and Sean Tucker. All of those folks but Sean are past and current (Rob) IAC Unlimited National Champions. Sean is a past Advanced Nat's Champ. Airshows and competitions are two different worlds, each with unique challenges, but this is just a glimpse of the 'other side'.
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