Aerobatics: It takes more than just a licence to fly
PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA: Motorsport has karting. Footballers, tennis players and cricketers among others thank early exposure for success. Every sportsperson needs a platform to prepare for the grind ahead.
What about the aerobats? How do they climb up the ladder? Speak to the pilots competing in the third round of the 2014 Red Bull Air Race — a premier aerobatic championship — and they all call themselves ‘latebloomers’! Simply because nothing moves ahead unless they get their flying licence.
And, yes, obtaining the licence is just the first step to making it to the pinnacle of aerobatics. As many would vouch, it’s not easy to ditch a well-paid job as a commercial pilot and taking the plunge into the sport.
At an age when sportspersons are in the twilight of their careers, aerobats are still learning and seen climbing the ladder of success.
“Desire, dedication and, most importantly, perseverance,” says Nigel Lamb “is the key”. Lamb, at 58, is one of the oldest pilots in the series.
“Flying planes is simpler than driving a car, but doing stunts in a disciplined manner is completely different,” he adds.
Once you decided to take the plunge, aerobatics training institutes guide you through the paces. But that’s just the basic stuff. As you go higher --- as is the case with every other sport --- you need to hire personal coaches. And it doesn’t come cheap. But, to encourage participation, Red Bull has started a “Challenger Class” for upcom- ing aerobats.
So, how do they make ends meet if it’s such a struggle? “By performing aerobatics at air shows,” says Lamb, who was a jet pilot with the Rhodesian Air Force (now Zimbabwe) before he moved to Britain to follow his passion to join an aerobatics team.
On the other side of the spectrum is Canadian Pete McLeod, who, at 30. is the youngest participant. More young guys like him are deciding early to take up the sport. “I decided to be an aerobat at a very young age. I have a licence to fly commercial jets but decided against it. Never felt the desire to do so.”
Senior pilots, most of them in their 40s, see youngsters coming in as a good trend.