AEROBATICS - SPORT, SCIENCE, AND SURVIVAL

Since the inception of the air-plane as a weapon of warfare, aerobatic s has been inherent to the pursuit of aerial combat. The term itself c onjures up the image of Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron of the ' 'Flying Circus'' squadron, in a Fokker triplane going head to head wit h Eddie Rickenbacker of the ''Hat in the Ring'' squadron in a Spad bip lane. Partly because of this archaic image, aerobatics and aerobatic p ilots are often viewed as daredevil and devil-may-care, when for the m ost Dart, nothing could be further from reality, The successfully comp leted aerobatic maneuver results from intellectual understanding, deta iled planning, and hours of dedicated practice. It should not be confu sed with a bungee jump! This article aims to dispel some of the myths and preconceptions regarding aerobatic flight and the pilots who choos e it as their sport. It will review in part the evolution of competiti ve sport flying as well as basic aerobatic maneuvers and their underly ing physics. Aerobatic flight regulations and the application of aerob atic training to routine flight will also be addressed.