Acro Camp» Pitts S-2B

Sneak Peek 01: Jim Rodriguez’s Hammer-Spin

Stephen Tupper — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 03:43:00 +0000

The editing is really coming together! Above is an example of some of the footage and audio that we’ve been working on. It’s a sequence showing Jim Rodriguez’s “hammer-spin” in the Pitts with IP Don Weaver. Jim figured out the exciting way that a Pitts doesn’t need as much forward stick at the top of a hammerhead.

We’re editing our heads off whenever we can to get the film out this summer. And the music is coming along well, too. Ace audio guy Scott Cannizzaro just dropped an early mix of his take on Acro Grass and it’s stellar.

More news as it happens!

What -2.5G Looks Like

Stephen Tupper — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 05:06:00 +0000

On Lynda’s last flight in the Pitts, Don demonstrated advanced maneuvers. Here’s a frame grab from an outside half loop (from inverted, push to upright). If Lynda’s hair was up on the canopy in here -1G inverted flight, it was plastered there in this maneuver. Don also did an outside recovery from a hammerhead with Michelle, which I think was the maneuver during which Michelle experienced the max negative G of Acro Camp. I think I took a picture of the G meter just for posterity.

The cataloging of Day 4 (17 May) is almost complete. Then I start watching the ground footage, which will be a little more straightforward than the aerial footage has been so far.

Wing Cam footage of Jim’s Botched Hammerhead

Stephen Tupper — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 23:57:00 +0000

More slaving over a hot Mac this evening. But eminently worth it. I think I’m about 80% of the way through cataloging the aerial footage.

I found the wing camera version of Jim’s botched hammerhead. About the same level of drama as the cockpit camera, but a different angle.

Here’s a pretty good frame grab of Michelle and Don in the vertical. The footage is becoming much more Pitts and Super-D heavy with the Citabria only doing two flights on Day 3.

Jim’s Botched Hammerhead in the Pitts

Stephen Tupper — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:44:00 +0000

Think Acro Camp is all about beautiful and coordinated flying? No-sir-ee bob!

In this outtake, camper Jim Rodriguez botches a hammerhead. Ugly, ugly, ugly!

But how are you going to learn how to do it right if you don’t do it wrong every once in awhile? And, perhaps more importantly, you’re going to botch a maneuver every now and then. You might as well see what botched maneuvers look like and learn how to recover from (and eventually laugh at!) them. I can’t think of another IP or airplane that I rather have it happen to me in. Jim is in great hands with Don and the Berz Pitts.

Folks, Acro Camp is about real people who are a lot like you hanging it out there on the edge and getting a good snootful of what’s up there. It’s a genuine story of transformation and growth. Botched, beautiful, and otherwise. I can’t wait to share it with you!

Acro Camp Production Outtakes – Surfing the Pitts Breeze

Stephen Tupper — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:11:00 +0000

Here’s footage from the Hero cam on the Pitts moments after startup. First Barry, then Steve, then Rod decide to surf the prop blast of the Pitts. This is from Saturday 15 May, Day 2 of flying.