What happened was...

While I was on downwind, getting ready to do a low pass, I noticed the starting crew was still on the runway (they normally move way off to the side after start & release). I took my eyes off the plane and "communicated" the situation to them. During the time period in which I was "communicating" to the crew (maybe 1 or 2 seconds), the plane had gotten further away and, more importantly, had, without my noticing, done a half roll. So now the plane is inverted and, being it's both small AND far away, I proceeded to ROLL IT INTO A TURN AND PULL UP ELEVATOR ON A LOW-FLYING, FAST, UPSIDE DOWN, PERFECTLY GOOD AIRPLANE!!! My next maneuver was the famous "Smoking Hole".

Yes, I know it was my fault and I was embarrassed, humbled and jeered at. (I also know I ended the phrase/sentence with a preposition...too bad!)

What a hoot that airplane was!

Bob Edison