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Writer's pictureCady

You Only Live Once: A Last-Minute Aerobatic Competition

Howdy,


A few weeks ago, I had the honor of competing at the Texas 2 Step Aerobatic Competition in Edna, TX. It was an opportunity to advance my skills in competition aerobatics, push my limits, and connect with mentors and friends. There was just one catch—I hadn't planned on competing. I made a last-minute decision, after some much-needed persuasion, to join the competition even though it had already started.


I woke up at 3 a.m. on the day of the event to preflight the Cherokee and make the 2½-hour flight down to Edna, with the initial plan of volunteering. After the competition in Hondo, I was eager to continue learning about aerobatic competitions, and volunteering in Edna seemed like the perfect way to observe seasoned competitors and assist with recording scores for the judges. I arrived just as the sun rose over the small lake beside the runway, where I was warmly welcomed by the chief judge and a friendly FAA official named Ben. Once everyone had arrived, we began the briefing, covering the flight order, weather, and lunch orders—an essential part of any aerobatic competition.


The day before, one of the competitors had reached out to offer me the chance to rent his Super Decathlon for the competition. I declined, as I hadn't flown his airplane before and wouldn't have time for a practice session. As we walked to the judges' line, I received the same offer again. I was tempted, but I was also trying to save money for a competition I had registered for in California at the end of October. Despite my valid excuses—and perhaps a bit of lingering nerves—the contest director urged me to fly.


There's a song by The Strokes called "You Only Live Once," and it's a motto I try to live by. With that in mind, I spun around and sprinted to the Super Decathlon to let the owner know that I was going to compete.


I could only stay for the day, so I had to complete all three flights in a single day. Most competitions typically spread out the flights over a few days, as aerobatics is a physically demanding sport. Given that I had never flown that Super Decathlon before, my flights went well overall. By the third flight, though, the adrenaline had completely worn off, making for a long journey home that evening.


I’m grateful for the immense support from this close-knit aerobatic community. (Thanks for letting me beat up the box in your airplane, Jaret!) I walked away with a second-place finish, which was a great way to conclude the competition. Before the group dinner, one of my aerobatic idols, Debby Rihn-Harvey, flew in with her Bonanza. With multiple first-place finishes in the Unlimited category, a flight school, and a role as a Designated Pilot Examiner in the Houston area, she’s someone I aspire to be like. We had the chance to chat about my search for a Pitts and reminisce about her competition aerobatics days.


After dinner, I flew home and fell asleep immediately after a full day of flying. Would I ever choose to fly three competition flights in a day after waking up at 3 a.m. without any practice beforehand? Probably not. But one thing is certain—there's nothing I love more than the feeling of completing a clean sequence or flying inverted. This competition gave me even more courage and confidence for my next event, where I'll be competing in the Sportsman category. Fortunately, I'll have an entire week to practice! Soon enough, I’ll have a Pitts of my own and will be able to practice as much as I can to make the Advanced team one day.


-Cady

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