Flying the Sportsman Sequence part 1
By Gordon Penner, IAC 429704
Sport Aerobatics January/February 2025
Overview
All right! For 2025 we have an excellent Sportsman Known sequence that is high energy and can be flown by a Citabria or 150-hp Decathlon.
Welcome to Part 1 of the 2025 Sportsman sequence.
The late sportsman champion Giles Henderson and I had long wished for a sequence that rewarded finesse instead of horsepower. Giles had a saying I love that encapsulates that desire: “Energy management is something one does with the right hand, not the left.”
In his earlier writings, Giles stated that, above all, low-horsepower/high-drag aircraft need to have access to their energy by diving. These aircraft also have difficulty performing a good slow roll or point roll unless they have some airspeed. Consequently, a sequence shouldn’t have an energy-sapping maneuver right before that slow roll.
This sequence meets most of Giles’ wishes. My hope is that this sequence will be the model for those that come after. We must continue to leave room in Sportsman for Citabrias, Van’s RVs, and other experimental aircraft of similar performance. For those who want more difficulty, I would suggest developing a Freestyle.
READ MORE> https://www.iac.org/magazines
Articles in the "Flying the Sportsman Sequence" Series
Flying the Wedge by Gordon Penner, In the Loop February 2023
Flying the Immelman, by Gordon Penner, In the Loop March 2023
Flying the Loop, by Gordon Penner, Sport Aerobatics December 2019
Flying the Half Cuban, by Gordon Penner, In the Loop May 2023
Flying the Humpty Bump, by Gordon Penner, In the Loop June 2023
Flying the Competition Roll, by Gordon Penner, In the Loop July 2023
Flying the Hammerhead, by Gordon Penner, In the Loop August 2023
Flying the Spin, by Gordon Penner, In the Loop September 2023
Flying the Aerobatic Turn, by Gordon Penner, In the Loop October 2023
Online Resources:
Introduction to Aresti, by Brian Howard, www.iac.org/aerobatic-figures
More articles on typical Sportsman category figures
Flying the 2023 Sportsman Sequence, by Gordon Penner, In the Loop, January 2023
Aerobatic Trim Part 1, by Gordon Penner, Sport Aerobatics September 2020
Aerobatic Trim Part 2, by Gordon Penner, In the Loop October 2020
Half Cubans, Accurate 45-degree downlines, by Giles Henderson, Sport Aerobatics June 2011, pg. 28
VIDEO
A brief discussion of the Aresti Symbols
by Gordon Penner, MCFI-Aerobatic and FAA Gold Seal CFI
This is a detailed explanation of the Immelman to competition judging standards.
By Gordon Penner, MCFI-A, FAA Gold Seal instructor with Jeff Granger, Intermediate competitor, Extra 300.
