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5 comments

[–] TheBuddha 3 points (+3|-0)

I've paid some attention to this and watched the footage, as much of it as I could - which was two long segments.

The guy doesn't do a "Barrel Roll." He does a "loop-the-loop" and it looks like he started an "aileron roll" at one point, but pulled into a bank instead.

And, lest you think that I'm judging harshly, I gotta say that loop was pretty fucking awesome. I was pretty sure he was going to die in an unplanned water landing. But, he made it!

Alas, the barrel roll is not well understood by pundits, journalists, or bystanders. It's hard to describe, but it involves maintaining positive G, the entire time, and rotating on an axis that is outside of the plane. A loop-the-loop does some of that - but it doesn't maintain positive G.

Basically, think of a helix. That's a barrel roll. I brought this up on Voat and someone told me facts were irrelevant. I think they also called me a shill? I don't remember. Anyhow, I figured I'd share with y'all.

[–] doggone [OP] 2 points (+2|-0)

Your definitions sound correct to me. I haven't see any video other than him pulling up from a dive over the water, and I expected him to crash then (that's when it happens in the old movies anyway).

[–] TheBuddha 3 points (+3|-0)

Oh, I verified my definitions before using them - I'm passingly familiar with the jargon and the actual methodology. I've never done a loop, nor a barrel roll. I have done an aileron roll, however. (I have a few pilot friends and you don't need a license to fly a plane when you've got a licensed pilot with you in the cockpit.)

I'm still pretty impressed with his flight. Just figuring out which switches to use to ensure everything is ready to take off, in a plane like that, is quite a feat.

[–] [Deleted] 2 points (+2|-0)

“I’ve played video games before,” Russell said. “I know what I’m doing..."

Love that quote.

[–] doggone [OP] 1 points (+1|-0)

Yeah, that sounded to me like he was joking around, more than stating his credentials. Maybe he just got lucky with pulling off the stunts.