RAF
Former RAF Pilot In Insane Stunt Challenge
A former RAF Tornado pilot has successfully carried out a 'world-first' stunt in a specially-modified airplane.
Rich Goodwin, who served in the First Gulf War, performed what's known as a 'knife-edge' manoeuvre between two hot air balloons tethered to a runway.
Flying a Pitts Special S-2S stunt plane at a 90-degree angle just a few feet above the ground, he cut a ribbon tied between the two balloons, at Staverton Airfield in Gloucestershire. He said:
"It's quite a daunting task when you're at the end of a runway flying straight towards these two big hot air balloons. The gap doesn't look that big but I know there's plenty of room."
He added: "The knife edge manoeuvre is one of the trademark moves of this aeroplane and my airshow acts... so I'm quite familiar with the handling characteristics.
"It seemed like a good opportunity to make use of the particular nuances of this aircraft and what we can do with it to do a stunt like this."
The ribbon was cut by the plane’s wing tip as the plane flew through the narrow gap.
It's the first time this has been attempted, with the stunt requiring a high degree of expertise, trust and teamwork from the three pilots involved (the other two manned the hot air balloons).
After the first flight pass had been successfully completed, the balloons flew up to 1000 feet before Goodwin made the same exacting manoeuvre again.
The stunt was designed by technology company Anana, as a finale to its latest season of aerial and daredevil events and displays. Its hot air balloon, bought in 2013, is operated by Bailey Balloons.
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