Astonishing Extreme Aerobatics – No Room for Error
Welcome back!
Aerobatics is the demonstration of extreme and daring flying maneuvers for training, sport, recreation or entertainment which requires extraordinary skill and highly extensive training.
The Frecce Tricolori aerobatics team of the Italian Air Force, flying at the
Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford, Gloucestershire, England.
Many aerobatic maneuvers involve rotation of the aircraft about its longtitudinal axis (rolling) or the pitch axis (looping). Some complicated maneuvers such as a spin also require that the aircraft be displaced around a vertical axis called yawing. Maneuvers are typically combined, demanding a superior level of skill from the pilot.
Some pilots fly solely for recreation, while a smaller number — several hundred world-wide — compete in aerobatic competitions. Competitions begin at Primary or Graduate level and proceed in complexity through Sportsman, Intermediate and Advanced, with Unlimited as the topmost competition level. Unlimited pilots perform much more complex figures and sustain higher g levels.
The BAE Hawks of the RAF Red Arrows display team, flying in Concorde
formation, commemorating the retirement of the Concorde passenger jet.
In the early days of flying, some pilots used their aircraft as part of a flying circus to entertain. Maneuvers that had no practical purpose were flown for artistic reasons or to shock spectators. Some of these maneuvers enabled aircraft to gain tactical advantage during aerial combat or dogfights between fighter aircraft.
Aerobatic aircraft generally fall into 2 categories — specialist aerobatic, and aerobatic capable. Specialist designs such as the Pitts Special, the Extra 200 and 300, and the Sukhoi Su-29 strive for ultimate aerobatic performance. At a more basic level, aerobatic capable aircraft can be dual purpose — equipped to carrying passengers and luggage, easy to land, and being capable of basic aerobatic figures.
Flight formation aerobatics are flown by teams of up to 16 aircraft, although most teams fly between 4 and 10. Some are state funded to reflect pride in the armed forces while others are commercially sponsored.
Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran during an aerobatic demonstration. Photo B. Harry
Colored smoke trails are emitted at times to emphasize the patterns flown or the colors of a national flag. Teams frequently fly V-formations. They will not fly directly behind one another due to dangers from wake vortices or engine exhaust — flying slightly below the aircraft in front if they follow in line.
Aerobatic maneuvers flown in a jet powered aircraft are limited, as they cannot make the most of the gyroscopic forces that a propeller driven aircraft can perform. Jet powered aircraft also fly much faster which increases the size of the figures and the length of time which the pilot has to withstand increased g-forces. Jet aerobatic teams often fly in formations which further restricts the maneuvers that can be safely flown.
Training
Military fighter pilots are taught aerobatics as a means to develop precise flying skills and tactical use in combat. But aerobatics and formation flying isn’t solely limited to fixed wing aircraft — the British Army, Royal Navy and the Indian Air Force — known as Sarang or Peacock — use helicopters for their helicopter display team.
Aerobatics by Sarang helicopter formation display team. Photo B. Harry
All aerobatic maneuvers demand far-reaching training and practice to avoid accidents. Accidents are rare but often result in fatalities. Safety regulations are so stringent that there has not been an airshow-spectator fatality in the US since the 1950’s. Low-level aerobatics are extremely demanding and air show pilots must demonstrate their ability before being allowed to gradually reduce the height at which they’re permitted to fly their performance.
No Room For Error Airshow
Amazing airshow footage of coordinated jet maneuvers.
Mind-blowing Russian Air Show Clips
Russian AirShow – MAKS Combat
Russian Airforce at show video. Demonstrating
latest in Russian military technology.
Galway Airshow — Salthill 2007
RAF Red Arrows Display Team
Somenzini Aircraft RC Yak 54 Aerobatics
RC Yak 54 3D aerobatics video flown by Brandon Kontorinis
for the Flying Giants 2006 video contest.
Blue Angels F/A 18 Hornet
Bird’s eye view from the cockpit.
Canadian Force Snowbirds Montage
The amazing aerobatics of the Canadian Snowbirds,
flying CT-114 Tutors.
Canadian Snowbirds
These 9 pilots put on a spectacular air show demo.
Geico Skytypers Pittsburgh 2007
Zoltan Veres Aerobatics
Aerobatics: Mancuso / Chapman
Glenn Pew takes you inside the mind of an airshow performer and rides
along through tight formation and opposing flight maneuvers.
Sarong Helicopter Display Team
This helicopter display team is one of its kind in the world, a part of the
Indian Air Force. They fly the Advanced Light Helicopter manufactured
by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
Source: Wikipedia
Tags:aerial aerobatic aerobatics air show aircraft airshow Blue Angels Canadian Snowbirds extreme flying Geico Skytypers pilot RAF Red Arrows Sarang Helicopter Display Team sport sports
Videos are no more available… why?
By the way I love flying. If someone speaks Polish let me invite for my vortal about flying
http://www.easyfly.pl
The videos are available for me. Anyway they are simply amazing. No wonder there put through extensive pyschological and physical tests.
Awsome displays. Thanks Deb. And as a Helicopter pilot myself, I can truly appreciate the risks, rewards, planning, safeguards and maintainence involved with such endeavors.
Think for a minute on the perspective of mankinds history though. Man has wanted to fly since he first observed birds. Thousands upon thousands of years have gone by. Not much happened. It wasn’t until December 17, 1903 that the Wright brothers flew the first powered (free)flight at Kitty Hawk. Look how far we have come in just a 104 years. We have gone to the Moon. Mars is within our reach, and powered flight on Earth continues to push the extreme boundaries.
All in just over 100 years. Think about that for a second. In a historical perspective,…it’s mind-blowing.
I saw a show like this some years before and I was really impressed what they were able to do!!
Wojciech, I tried each video and they all work. Perhaps YouTube was down temporarily when you tried to play them.
Definitely Andy, it’s extreme precision flying. The Russian clips were stunning performances.
Thanks Nitropuppy. Do you still fly? That has to be a blast! I’d love to take a chopper ride some day over a scenic area like Grand Cayon, or the Iguassu Waterfalls.
Funny that you mention man’s desire to fly Nitropuppy … I was about to write a post on the topic of Jet Pack Flying today but ran out of time (soon to be published). Yes, it is indeed amazing how far we’ve come in such a short time.
Tobias, that would be very exciting to see live. We’ve had shows here for the Canadian Snowbirds, but I’ve never had the opportunity to attend.
How many people don’t realize the Yak-54 is an R/C scale model, I wonder?
Hi Folks, videos works indeed
Hmmm, perhaps not many Ray.
Glad the videos worked for you now WOjciech, they’re very worthwhile to watch.
I have only words of admiration for pilots having cold blood running trough their veins. It takes more than courage to do such acrobatic movements.
I don’t think it’s so much cold blood as it is courage, Trees, courage and daring