“Chief Judge to Competitor X, the box is yours. Have a safe flight.” With these words, the aerobatic box is dedicated exclusively to that one pilot and that imaginary box in contest airspace is his or hers for four
minutes of highly skilled flight.
At the end of Contest Week after all competition flights in all categories have been flown and as time
allows, a Four Minute Freestyle may be scheduled for two categories - Unlimited and Advanced. For the Four Minute, there are different requirements and judging points from the Known, Unknown, and Free Programs. In a nutshell, it is “anything goes”.
In contrast to the week of competition flights where competitors fly within rigid parameters and are governed and judged by the rules, IAC Rules are set aside and judges of the Four Minute Free have no aresti forms to follow. They are allowed to compare the flights they are about to see in terms of technical merit for best use of the aerobatic box, exploitation of aircraft aerodynamics and G-forces with little repetition, execution of figures which must be done under complete control, a wide array of maneuver elements with different flight paths and axes, and artistic impression. Artistic impression is demonstrated in the pleasing and continuous flow of figures from one to the next and in contrasting maneuvers - fast to slow. Figures are expected to be positioned for the best showmanship with symmetry being key. Judges want to see the complete aerobatic box in all sectors.
The rules that are in place are that altitude infringements may be called for high, low, or low-low which is too low for enjoyable viewing which, after all, is the purpose of the airshow-like demonstration. Music is allowed and smoke is allowed, and, most importantly, Four Minute Frees must be flown in that four-minute time frame. Penalty points are deducted for deviations from that time goal.
Overall, what judges look for and what skilled pilots beautiful present are innovation, creativity, and showing off the aircraft and masterful handling of the machine. Not to mention that WOW factor, of course!
