Had the pleasure of viewing the Ballet of the Sky and both Jason Shulman's and Frank Noll, Jr's 3D tapes. One of the most attention getting 3D manuvers is the high alfa knife edge (yes a 3D manuver) down the field just in front of the pilot. Full stall rollers are another 3D manuver that benefits from side area. Check out the EFE (expanded flight envelope) events that Branwell McClory initiated in the east and is spreading over the nation. One of the Pattern sheets I got has a lay down humpty (sometimes called a "drunk"' humpty) as follows: pull to 45 upline with a 1/4 roll to knife edge in the center of the upline / perform an half knife edge loop to a 45 downline (still in knife edge) with a 1/4 roll to upright exit.

In an interview at the TOC Mike McConnville was asked if he would be pulling the roll to knife edge on take off replied that it was in the flight in another area. Watch his performance and you will witness a great deal of 3D knife edge flight.

Even though it may not be listed knife edge performance of a plane yields greatly to the overall effect of 3D. Viewing tapes of the TOC // Masters // IMAC nats etc will yield a variety of manuvers that are 3D and include quite a bit of knife edge performance. Variety is the key to higher scores.

Is a plane with great knife edge performance necessary to learn 3D manuvers? Certainly not. It is my opinion that it makes for more interest when 3D manuvers are included in different attitudes.

Bill