Well Buck, your right we would not have tooted our horn on this here. But since you did let me add a few things that I think will help explain some of this to the un-initiated.
The Buck here is Buck Roetman, ACE (aerobatic competency evaluator), think check pilot. The ACE program is administered through ICAS, to evaluate pilots who want to fly aerobatics in public air show events.
Getting a surface level waiver is no small task. It takes years to do. A waiver card here, is what is referred to as a SAC (statement of aerobatic competency) FAA Form 8710-7. This card is issued by the FAA that permits a pilot to perform under public air show waivers. Its not to be confused with other cards that are also issued by other organizations authorized by the FAA to issue air show waiver cards. You have probably heard of FAST and FFI who issue non-aerobatic formation cards. I am an FFI formation check pilot and have been for years. There are different standards and requirements for these various cards issued for air shows.
Starting out, SAC cards are issued with hard decks for safety and experience reasons. As an example. Typically a new card is issued at Level 4, 800'. Means you cant be aerobatic below that. You have to fly a number of shows, and and even greater number of performances, in order to meet the qualifications to take another evaluation to get to level 3, 500'. More venues and flying at level 3 500' and you get to try for Level 2, 250', and so on until you get to the surface, Level 1.
The SAC cards are essentially solo aerobatic cards first and foremost. Then you can add on other things like formation, circle the jumpers, dog fighting, inverted ribbons cuts, blah blah blah. Although the rules for the add ons have changed over the past year or so, the main thing is you must be proficient in solo aerobatics first, and demonstrate that, before you can add on formation or the other ad-ons. Our check rides consist of a solo aerobatic routine with required elements, then, and only then, you go get up in formation and do it again with another set of required elements to meet that standard.
For Team RV, since we are essentially an only formation act, level 1 is strictly for marketing. We do not intentionally take any of our formation aerobatics below 200' for safety reasons. We need the extra 200' below us to account for botched maneuvers, high density altitudes, and safety outs. However, having the surface level waiver is to the air show community, a demonstration that you have been in the business for quite some time, and have worked your way to surface safely. Many venues will not hire ANY act if not holding a surface level waiver. Just the way the business works for a variety of reasons.
So for Team RV, its a long, hard, expensive road of time, lots of money, and practice, to reach the surface level waiver. It was a goal we set several years ago and its the reason its a big deal.
Hopefully this explains what Buck was talking about in a little more detail. If you can believe it, with all of Bucks time in all kinds of planes over the years, he had neither ridden in, nor flown in an RV. Well we could not let that stand and he took Subobs fine example of a light weight RV and blasted off into the box to play. We watched him play around, carb engine dieing, oil spewing all over. A sign of a fun ride for sure. He came back with the RV grin we all know and love. I think he went home to his Christen Eagle and appologized for looking at another woman with envy, drooling, and dripping with sweat. He loved the RV. We enjoyed watching another pilot converted.
