Fun Fly and Profile planes were flying "3D" long before the term was coined. The term 3D really does not accurately describe what airplanes do, as opposed to helicopters that really are capable of true 3D or "three dimentional" flight. Obviously the term has become generic for high alpha and hovering flight primarly however, some would consider flat spins or a knife edge loop as 3D maneuvers. It is kind of like the famous words of a Senator a few years ago when ask to define pornography, " I can't define it, but I know what it is when I see it ".

For me the term 3D best describes a scale based airplane that has a wing loading light enough to prevent tip stalling, a power to weight ratio that will allow vertical acceleration from a hover and enough control surface area and throws to maneuver and control the aircraft in a stalled attitude. And last but not least . it usually implies performing these maneuvers at eye level or lower.

So how can you be sure you are flying 3D ? When the guys in the pits are giving you the Yeeeaaaahh!!!!!! or Woooo Hooooo!!!!!!!! you are probably 3D'n. Huck it knarly dudes