Besides the obvious, 3D is a phrase that was coined several years ago to describe a new flying technique. This style of flying developed as a direct result of the evolution of models and radio software. The newer helicopter radios provided options for the pilot to have dedicated flight modes. Now the mechanical setup in the helicopter could be uniform about a central 0 degree point, with each flight mode making use of different parts of the collective travel. Additionally, features were added to allow the correct tail rotor compensation and cyclic trims commensurate with collective pitch and throttle position.
With all that in mind, what follows is my definition of 3D. If you can loop and roll, if you can stall turn, pirouette, tumble and flip, or even if you can hover inverted, this is not 3D. Succinctly put, 3D is the high energy interplay between the maneuver primitives.
When true 3D is performed, each element constitutes a harmony with the one before and after. Rolls and loops become a ballet playing off each other as energy exchanged for altitude and airspeed; a flip to the inverted becomes backward inverted flight: at each point, the true 3D pilot shows that he is master of the machine by demonstrating fluid motion, and all maneuvers in upright, inverted, forward and backward flight phases.
If you can perform the maneuver primitives in all phases of flight, then, take the title of 3D pilot. Here are my 3D pilot heroes. If you know of somebody else who qualifies, e-mail their name to me. Oh, hail to the great ones.
Curtis Youngblood the one true 3D God
Todd Bennett Hirobo's US factory pilot...truly outstanding
Ray St. Onge quiet power
Mike Swift he can do it all with a Shuttle
Gary Wright
Bob Johnson The UK's Curtis Y. equivalent
| Flight Phases | Other | Primitives |
| Forward | Autorotation | Loop |
| Backward | Hover | Roll |
| Inverted | Pirouette | Stall Turn |
| Flip |
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