Designing a Display Sequence

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Designing a Display Sequence

• A few pointers for safety and satisfaction

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Requirements

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Requirements

• First and foremost SAFETY
• This has been stated a 1000 times before, but it
  doesnt hurt to say it again.

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Requirements

• First and foremost SAFETY
• This has been stated a 1000 times before, but it
  doesnt hurt to say it again.
• Design a sequence within the abilities of
  yourself and the aircraft
• Do not fly maneuvers that are above your
  comfortable abilities or unsuited to the
  aircraft. It could be unsafe, and it wont look
  good. Dont be a show-off.

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Requirements

• First and foremost SAFETY
• This has been stated a 1000 times before, but it
  doesnt hurt to say it again.
• Design a sequence within the abilities of
  yourself and the aircraft
• Do not fly maneuvers that are above your
  comfortable abilities or unsuited to the
  aircraft. It could be unsafe, and it wont look
  good. Dont be a show-off.
• You are hired to fly for the public
• Do not use the display as a training ground for
  yourself. It is most probably boring to watch,
  and you will not be invited back.

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Designing the Sequence

• Consider what you want show to the public in the
  context of yourself and your aircraft
• Think about the overall appearance of the
  sequence. Match to aircraft characteristics, your
  level of experience and personal taste.
• Allways keep in mind that the display should be
  nice to watch from the ground. Even a great many
  of the general public will see the difference.
• Develop your personal style.

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Designing the Sequence

• Design for energy management
• In an airshow, you often fly close to the ground.
  Maintaining energy becomes critical. This
  certainly applies more to some aircraft than
  others.
• Exiting a maneuver at a speed greater than max
  level speed will lead to energy bleeding. Convert
  speed to altitude as required.
• Exiting a maneuver a a speed lower than max level
  speed will cause the aircraft to accelerate and
  thus gain energy.
• Use the above creatively to maintain energy
  throughout the sequence.

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Designing the Sequence

• Design for energy management
• In an airshow, you often fly close to the ground.
  Maintaining energy becomes critical. This
  certainly applies more to some aircraft than
  others.
• Exiting a maneuver at a speed greater than max
  level speed will lead to energy bleeding. Convert
  speed to altitude as required.
• Exiting a maneuver a a speed lower than max level
  speed will cause the aircraft to accelerate and
  thus gain energy.
• Use the above creatively to maintain energy
  throughout the sequence.

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Designing the Sequence

• Weather and local limitations
• Design a low-ceiling sequence and practice it.
  Poor weather is abundant.
• You must allow for all possible wind conditions
  within limits. Its a good idea to have
  variations of your normal sequence to fit
  different wind conditions.
• Allow for variations density altitude.
• Consider the airspace available at the air
  display. It may be narrow, thus a rolling turn
  may not be suitable. It may have altitude
  restrictions limiting vertical maneuvers. Keep
  sequence variations handy to allow for this.

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Designing the Sequence

• Maneuver selection
• Choose maneuvers suited to your own and your
  aircraft abilities. Stretching the envelope of
  the aircraft and yourself does not look good and
  may be unsafe.
• A good idea is to start with a high energy
  maneuver
• Consider safety in each maneuver. Be creative.
  Safe doesnt have to be boring.
• Maneuvers may have to be modified for a low level
  environment.
• Consider the strain on yourself and the aircraft

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Designing the Sequence

• How low should you go?
• Certainly, not lower than your personal and local
  display minima.
• Flying very low causes only the front row of
  spectators to see whats going on.
• Flying very low easily makes the flying look
  tense and stressed.
• Flying very low is more dangerous.

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Designing the Sequence

• Resist ad-lib flying, but keep ways out ready
• You should stick to you planned and practised
  sequence, but if safety demands, diversions are
  required.
• Mentally fly through the sequence with regard to
  unplanned situations and consider the best
  possible way to deal with them.

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Let the Fun begin, go fly!

• After the initial design, a fun process begins
• Start high. Keep track of energy and altitude.
• Land and make corrections as required, then try
  again.
• Have someone watch from the ground if possible.
• Practice botched maneuvers at a safe altitude
• The process of designing, flying, redesigning and
  fine tuning is a very rewarding one.

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Have fun, give the public a great time and fly
SAFE!