Level flight being flown too low.

[Brett Buck]

We used to have a great flier in New England: Dave Cook. I once saw him fly an entire pattern with 3" bottoms. He was flying his  ST60 powered Lightning at the time. Must have been early 2000's

   You forgot to mention it was also BACKWARDs!

      Brett

[Ted Fancher]

Wow!!!!  Hope all you guys took breaks for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

The actual solution to the debate is that stunt pilots should "all" be required to fly level flight at shoulder level (kind of tough on the kids but, what the heck, they're going to crash anyhow!)  Thus fair for one and fair for all. 

That's what I did back in the olden era and it came out pretty well for me.  Even more important than my personal preference is that level flight is uniquely  a fair selection for all average stunt flyers.  It is both natural for the flyer and an "easy read' for the judges who don't have to do any "mental math" to recognize when the level is or is not correct by simply seeing where it is with respect to the pilot in charge of that elevation.  In addition it would simplify judging any disparity of level flight elevation from the pilot's "unique" view at various points at which judges measuring of the accuracy of "unique to this pilot's" i-balled assessment of the bottoms of "most" of the required tricks.  (Sorry for that sentence but you get it...right?)

Sorry.  Gotta run to practice songs for the holidays.  I'll hope to be able to find out your responses tomorrow.

[Trostle]

In addition it would simplify judging any disparity of level flight elevation from the pilot's "unique" view at various points at which judges measuring of the accuracy of "unique to this pilot's"
i-balled assessment of the bottoms of "most" of the required tricks.  (Sorry for that sentence but you get it...right?)

Right.  Absolutely!

Keith

[Brett Buck]

I think the original comment related to people routinely flying bottoms at 2 feet or lower and apparently not getting dinged for it. I assume we generally agree that this is not what was intended and that no one’s shoulder is at 18”?

[Dave_Trible]

I've been told I fly too low sometimes.   My excuse is I'm only about 5' 6'' tall. My shoulder height is considerably lower than many....I'm sticking' to it!

Dave

[Ken Culbertson]

The actual solution to the debate is that stunt pilots should "all" be required to fly level flight at shoulder level.

Now that would be a change I would like to see!  Easier for the judges for sure.

Ken

[Doug Moon]

Right.  Absolutely!

Keith

Now if it were only that easy to fly it that way.