TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CROSSWINDS

hen you watch really good aerobatic fliers, you’ll notice that they take advantage of all the airspace within the aerobatic box by performing maneuvers both parallel (X axis) and perpendicular (Y axis) to the runway, and consequently they enjoy greater flexibility and far more options when flying aerobatics. The “aerobatic box” is the airspace that a pilot performs his maneuvers in with good visibility. To remain in the box, a contest sequence will often feature a set of “cross-box” maneuvers on the Y axis to reposition the plane for an upcoming maneuver, to achieve a different viewing perspective and, most important, to reposition the airplane in the event a strong crosswind forces the plane too close or too deep within the box. The practice of sequencing two turnaround maneuvers together will certainly prove helpful for intermediate level sport fliers as well. Therefore, the objective this month is to highlight some of the turnaround maneuver combinations on the Y axis that will