Shocking!!!

[Nick B]

Great flying....but!!!!!!

[Idleup95]

I watched that from behind the couch xD

[dani_r]

Oh dear...Has he been getting video editing tips from another chap on here??

I jest of course...

Christ. Silly boy Mr Szabo...

[stephen. guest]

skill high sense low??

[AndyThilo]

Why's it shocking??

[miniman]

2nd I cant see whats shocking

[matjonze]

Not detracting from the skill of the pilot thats for sure, but it's amazing what having a practically unlimited supply of heli's can do for confidence.

[waveydavey]

Why's it shocking??

The fact he's flying far too close and theres people walking around the fence no more than 20 or 30 metres away, surely you all see that. Fantastic flying and skill but pretty bloody stoopid, mind I see it every weekend

[Si_B]

I thought the fences looked above head height around the flying area. I've seen worse displays with far less regard for any safety.

[pgkevet]

I'd suggest everyone buys a pint of paraffin and a bunch of bowie knives and this weekend practice fire-eating and throwing knives around an attractive model standing in front of a board.

Szabo is a circus performer here: paid and practiced at his craft. At least he doesn't have dog-walkers strolling across the helipad.

[miniman]

Mr Szabo can really fly slam 3D, but he is not as acurate, Smooth or even tallented as pilots like Duncan Osborne and others who practice F3N competition.

However for excitement and pure adrenaline Mr Szabo can really fly

This was at an event that he was and many others were flying at, if he wants to cut his own head of so be it. If you go to the nationals in this country they have speed control line flying behind a rope fence, ad we used to have a rope fence in this counry for the 3D Masters.

Peter

[Lynx.1677]

Fences are way above head height, I personally wouldn't fly there as I know I would smack it into the fence but he has the skill to keep it in the box. It's a tough call, other (more favourable) pilots do equally silly things and get called "gods"........it's all about perspective I guess.

[waveydavey]

I think it's only a matter of time before this type of flying results in someone getting hurt, you may be one of the best in the world as Szabo etc are but you can't account for a dumb thumb or a mechanical failure at the last minute as you fly towards yourself and go disk to face, a popped link or similar and it's going to hurt. Don't get me wrong I love this type of flying as everyone does but we're kidding ourselves if we arrogantly use our flying skills to cloud the fact.

[miniman]

How long do pilots spend, making sure linkages, bearings and ends are safe to use? If the answer is not before, after and during each flying session then these are the guys that need looking at. In the past week or two I watched several pilots arrive and go to fly without a single pre flight check. Take a look at the better pilots and they, their Father or helper will go over each linkage, the blades and in the case of FBL helis the electric systems before each flight never mind once. What you do not see is the hours of checking they do at home virtually stripping their helis to reduse the risc of flying very complicated machines from self destructing.

I agree with you that items will still fail even with the best pre and post checks, our own heli had a boom strike that was a supprise. We have since discovered the cause, and that check is now in our pre flight check.

I was chatting to a guy at the weekend who had not checked his machine for several months. I pointed out a damaged ball link ad he said it would be fine!!!

Clubs have SAfety officers who need to do a risk assesment at what the chances of a heli coming back into the pits area. If its as bad as you feel it is, then put up a safety fence, or better still make sure each pilot follows pre flight checks and ecorage full checks after each day.

I do think that pilots flying hard 3D, need some one behind them to warn of other helis close by. Pilots focus on their heli and ca miss what is flying around them.

Peter

[Scotvar]

I'd suggest everyone buys a pint of paraffin and a bunch of bowie knives and this weekend practice fire-eating and throwing knives around an attractive model standing in front of a board.

Szabo is a circus performer here: paid and practiced at his craft. At least he doesn't have dog-walkers strolling across the helipad.

Completely agree. He's a professional performer entertaining the crowd. I completely understand the "it's only a matter of time" argument but people go to see things that are a lot more dangerous all the time. Motorsport is a prime example. People go to see performers purely for the danger element in lots of cases. It is true that a large number of spectators might not realise the danger involved but for sure Alan Szabo Jr does and he's happy to have the heli as close to him as he does. Per professional statistically I'm sure it's not as dangerous as motorbikes or even horse racing.

For what it's worth I loved the video!

Paul