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High overhead, a lone little biplane drones over the crowd. Its almost a mile overhead, so far away that its not much more than a speck against the deep blue sky. Suddenly, the droning of the engine is replaced with a gasp from the crowd as they realize that the little airplanes engine has died. Almost simultaneously, the nose of the airplane drops and the machine begins to plunge toward the earth. As it draws closer, the crowd realizes that the airplane is plummeting directly toward them. And look at the pilot! Hes not even trying to regain control, but clearly holding his arms outstretched, away from the controls! As the airplane screams toward the crowd, women faint, and men stumble and fall as they try to escape from what appears to be certain death. But somehow, though the pilots hands are still not on the controls, the airplane abruptly pulls out of the dive, whooshing just inches over the crowds head as its tremendous speed carries it away from the crowd, its engine still silent. The year is 1914, and the crowd has paid to see an aerial exhibition performed by Lincoln Beachey. Theyve gotten their moneys worth! Many aviation historians regard Beachey as the Father of Aerobatics. He was the first to perform many aerobatic maneuvers such as flying upside-down, the barrel roll and the tail-slide. His Dive of Death, described above, was actually quite a feat of airmanship; he used his knees and the shifting of his body weight to control the airplane. And though he was the first great aerobatic exhibitionist, he was more than just a showman. Beachey was a true aerial pioneer, and helped to develop both the science and art of flying. But his showmanship contributed to the beginning of an institution that endures to this day “ the airshow. Though aviation has certainly lost the novelty it enjoyed in Beacheys time, airshows featuring aerobatic exhibitions are still among the most popular of spectator events. And the aerobatic pilots of today have at their disposal airplanes that possess strength, power, and maneuverability that Beachey probably couldnt even have dreamed of. These qualities are all put on display by aerobatic pilots, whose skill combines with the capabilities of the airplanes in performing aerial ballets that would not previously have been possible. But aerobatic flying is not only about the exhibitions of power and grace demonstrated by airshow performers. Its also about a private pilot taking his Piper Cub out on a nice summer evening to enjoy some gentle chandelles and lazy eights. Or the pilot who takes a course in aerobatics just to improve her overall flying skill and her ability to respond to emergencies. And its about the fighter pilot who works to hone his aerobatic skills with the knowledge that those skills may one day be the key to survival. Whatever the motivation for becoming involved in aerobatic flying, it offers challenges to be found nowhere else in aviation. And it can be a LOT of fun, for both participant and spectator alike! |