OK, the weather here in this part of the country was unseasonably warm and calm so I was able to go out and fly the Unlimited sequence through 5 complete sequences and bits and pieces of the sequence a few other times. Overall feelings? Tougher than last year's sequence. Plenty of spots for deductions! Here are my thoughts by manuever:

1. Hammerhead, snap up, rolls down. Need to be careful on the hammers- easy to get zero if you misjudge, plus this particular one has has to be done at sufficient altitude so you can do the two half rolls on downline and still maintain enough altitude on exit so that your roller (#2) is done at a comfortable altitude.

2. 270 Roller, from inverted cross box; first roll out, then a half roll in on exit to upright. I've done many different rollers but not this particular one. Rollers are kind of funny to me- if I haven't flown that exact one it seems to take some getting used to to do well. It was fine, just not real good! This could be kept smaller with some effort. I'll need to put some time in on this one.......

3. Figure N. No big issues here. Need to end high so that you can do the down humpty that follows.

4. Down humpty. A cool looking manuever with the half outside loop coming toward the flightline at the bottom. Need to take the exit high so you can start the following spin and then finish the outside loop at sufficient atlitude. This and the next two manuevers are critical as far as exit/entry altitude.

5. Spin needs to be started and completed higher than "usual". I has a 3/4 outside loop at the end that sets you up for #5, a half outside loop that starts high and ends low.

6. Half outside loop- two snaps on entry then half loop. This is the final of the three manuevers where altitude is critical. You need to really be careful with 3, 4 and 5 so that you have enough room to do them all well. 3 has to end high so that you have room to end number 4 high so that you have room to do number 5 and maintain altitude.

7. Outside loop with opposite direction 1 1/2 snaps- first positive, second negative. Again, I never did one of these before and I enjoyed trying something new. Need to keep power on through snaps or you will just stop dead after second snap and loop will look ugly. Thank God the snaps are on top and not on the bottom......

8. Two negative snaps on inverted 45 upline, 5/8 outside loop with roll then opposite snap on downline. Need to take this one high enough so that, on your downline, you have room for roll then snap before drawing line and leveling off.

9. Lay down humpty. I liked this manuever. 3/4 roll on 45 leaves you in knife edge then opposite 1 1/4 snaps done in direction so that you don't have to struggle to maintain the 45. Cool.

10. Vertical line with rolls. After the first 9, this one is almost boring. I'm sure that, when flying in the contests, I'll be thinking "the tough part's already over" when I exit 9.

Sure hope the weather holds out, I need the practice!