Entering the Overhead Eights

[Steve Helmick]

Tried something new (to me) at Eugene Oregon's "Blue Sky Stunt" event. We had a pretty good wind going on. I'd been having some serious problems with my neck, very stiff, some crunching sounds, and numbness in the side of neck, shoulder and upper arm. Had started getting beat on at the Chiropractor's the previous Monday, with very little flexibility. So, I figured that I'd never be able to fly the OH8 truely overhead, and really didn't want to fly it upwind. Hmmmm. What ta do? 

This lead me to entering the OH8 with the Judges to my right, pivoting 90 degrees to face downwind during the climb, and facing downwind. I think Ted does (or did?) his OH8 this way. It seems a big plus in windy conditions, and not a bad thing in normal conditions, so I'm thinking about making it my standard way to do it. While I had never tried it before my official flight at "Blew Sky", it worked out well, and I think the resulting OH8 was maybe better than my usual...tho I didn't get the score sheets. OTOH, I tried it again last night, got confused and left out the last outside. Some "dry flying" seems in order... Steve

[phil c]

Saw a similar suggestion on vicstunt.com, I think.  If you turn around, either during the climb, or during the first loop(the  judges can't see much in the way of roundness or shape way up there), you're facing the exit and it is a lot easier to finish the last loop and make the exit.

[keith varley]

Yesterday I was flying with Alan Resinger and noticed that he turns around just as he starts the first loop of the overheads. We talked about it and he mentioned that Dave Fitzgerald looks back over his shoulder to do the entry and  faces the exit during the whole manoever. I have noticed that Dave is able to bend backwards more than anyone else I have seen.It amazes me that he doesn't fall on his backside .I am one guy who continually flies the overheads out in front of  myself and I always have struggled with that. IF I remember to make a real effort I think I can put them in the right place , but somehow it just hasn't got to be a habit , even after many years of trying. People who I am flying  with hardly ever mention it , but it really would be kinder to hit on me , rather than ignoring it. Keith Varley

[Steve Helmick]

Keith...Just how hard do you want to get beatup?    Are you coming down for Raider's Roundup? We might just be able to arrange something... Steve