for Adam

[oz rb fan]

just found this on my facebook wall....i thought Adam would love it....and some of you others as well
http://vimeo.com/7942389

[DesTROYer]

Awesome. If the Roulettes did that, I'd be a fan.

[hrtpaul]

I need to live at a place like that. Except with a dragstrip down the middle

[tor lives]

OK now that is just all kinds of awesome
TOR

[Cap'n Wannabe]

I need to live at a place like that. Except with a dragstrip down the middle

Dragstrip....airstrip....why not dual purpose? Then we could be neighbours!

[hrtpaul]

Dragstrip....airstrip....why not dual purpose? Then we could be neighbours!

Geez I don't like ya that much mate

[Adam the Akrodude]

Thanks Paul. Sensational video!

The MXS is the "go to" aeroplane if you want the best unlimited aerobatic machine in the world. There's a pretty long waiting list. There's one down at Moorabbin and I saw it take off a few months ago - jaw dropping! It's more than a 45 degree up line on t/o. What you see in this video is complete 3D freedom to do anything in the air. Matt Halls' aeroplane is a modified racing version of the standard MXS.

The only think stopping me from ordering one is just waiting from that knock on the door from a Tatts representative informing me that my life has changed!

[Adam the Akrodude]

Awesome. If the Roulettes did that, I'd be a fan.

I agree that the Roulettes lost a lot of "presence" when they went to the PC-9. In fairness to the Roulettes though, what they do is very different - formation aerobatics which is a different skill set. Formation aerobatics is one of the most demanding flying disciplines and extremely unforgiving of mistakes. I've never done formation aerobatics, nor will I. I think it's really the domain of military teams, or those civvie teams (with ex-military pilots) that practice constantly for airshows. I do have enormous respect for the Roulettes - what they do requires a lot of practice and discipline.

I did once see a Roulette PC-9 do a "freestyle" at PCK and he even did a Lomcevak (end over end tumble), which I though interesting since PC-9's of course have a PT-6 turboprop. Adding all those gyroscopic forces to a engine spinning at 20,000 RPM - interesting! A "Lomi" is hard enough on a piston engine and repeated often enough has been known to separate the prop from the engine. Happened to Pip Borman in a Pitts.

Freestyle aerobatics is just that - enormous amounts of fun, but once again very unforgiving of mistakes. There is some very full on aerobatics shown in this video - more airshow stuff, not competition stuff like multiple knife edge spins, Lomi's and flat inverted spins. The Roulettes are all about selling the skill sets that the RAAF builds into it's aviators. I'm proud to say I'm a Roulette fan.

[DesTROYer]

Formation flying is all good and well, but its the RAAF for dog's sake. Do it in Hawks if you insist on using a trainer. PC-9 says to me, "Go get a beer from the bar before the entertainment starts, Troy"

[Adam the Akrodude]

Roulettes I doubt will ever get Hawks. Why? Because it would be a great miss-use of resources. The Hawk-127 is a lead in fighter/trainer - quite capable of delivering ordnance if need be and are fully occupied training fast jet pilots and are in high demand now and right through to when the F-35's start to come on stream. Great period for young people interested in joining the RAAF! Our armed forces are small and budgets always stretched to breaking point. The PC-9 is a far better display machine I think in that it can remain in front of the crowd for longer, as it can fly tighter radius turns/loops. Hawks use up a lot of airspace. Yes they fly faster and make a lot of noise but the PC-9 is a better display machine and better for PR - it being the to wings standard trainer. Just my opinion of course.

OK, the Roulettes don't float your boat. No worries. The pilots do sweat bucket loads in their efforts to put on a good display. Believe me, because they're able to make what they do look easy, it really isn't. It takes a lot of skill and practice. The fact that they make it look easy is a testament to their great skill as professional aviators. Their main job is of course to win the hearts and minds of young people thinking of joining the RAAF and in that I think they do a cracking job. When they fly over, it is impossible for me not to look up. An aerosexual is I!