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Thread: Elimination of Aerobatic Box
Message: RE: Elimination of Aerobatic Box
Follow-Up To: ACRO Email list (for List Members only)
From: "JTBerlin " <JTBerlin at msn.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Apr 1997 02:53:51 UTC
Another vote for keeping the box. I have only competed four times, always in basic in a Decathlon 150. Although there isn't technically a box in Basic, I always tried to properly place my maneuvers within the box. It made flying the short sequence more fun- striving for proper placement. I plan to move up to Sportsman, so why not begin learning how to place maneuvers in their proper places within the box sooner rather than later. Anyway, in addition to my "extensive" competition experience, I have been volunteer coordinator twice. I wish to comment that removing the box because of some complaints of having to trudge through weeds and place markers is rediculous. Being the volunteer coordinator is no picnic, but we're not planning on eliminating volunteers because of someone's having to trudge around and twist a few less than enthusiastic arms to sit out by the corner markers for a twenty-five pilot long Sportsman flight. Or is that next? It takes WORK to put on a contest. If that's what you or your chapter want to do, do it please. But do it knowing the work involved. Jeff Berlin IAC 20024 -----Original Message----- From: iac-request at harten.cbu.edu On Behalf Of ultimate at spindle.net Sent: Friday, April 11, 1997 12:26 PM To: iac at harten.cbu.edu Subject: Re: Elimination of Aerobatic Box I agree with Allyson. Keep the box. Eliminating the box because of the labor involved in laying it out is not sufficient reason for getting rid of it. I don't personally know either Mr. Klick or Mr. Myers but I know these guys can produce some well thought-out, meaningful posts that are useful to the aerobatic community because I've seen them do it before with respect to other issues. So let's frame the question this way: If we could magically have box boundary markers laid out with no labor, would we keep or eliminate the box SOLELY because we collectively decide it is or it is not necessary for flying aerobatic competition AS WE WANT TO DO IT IN THIS COUNTRY? For one thing, focus on how we're trying to promote aerobatics from the bottom up - bring new pilots into the fold, so to speak. Our rule book and the judging criteria specified therein INCLUDING the box dimensions provides a training framework within which a new aerobatic pilot can operate and in which experienced pilots can assist. This is important because it supplies a "program" that both neophytes and oldtimers can follow. There is no other viable informal or formal training structure to be found anywhere else in this country for learning safe aerobatics. Coaching and reminding a sportsman competitor during practice sessions about the box limits trains him/her to keep the flight in front of the judges, prevents wasting energy here and there, forces planning and thinking about the sequence, the flight, the wind, the maneuvers, how it presents to the judges, etc., while being safe. This is part of what makes competiton aerobatics a precision skill vs. stunt flying. We want this, don't we? This is supported by Patty Wagstaff's response about the boundaries, and, although addressed to all levels of competition, indirectly supports grassroots (that nagging word again!) acro and lower category competition (or maybe it was actually her point -- ?). Of course, by default, when a competitor gets to Advanced he/she can be the kind of pilot that most of the panel in April's S/A says makes it unncessary to have boundaries. Daryle L. Grounds, CPA, so I don't have time right now to say more since it's close to April 15th. Dallas, TX Chapter 24