Some of these planes were very loud. It was quite amazing what the pilots could make the planes do given that they were constrained to a fixed distance from the pilot (note that I did NOT say confined to a circle).

Randy explains the 1/2 A Combat Plane to Keith and Phil.

Unkown (to me) design. Note the carbon fiber on the wings.

It is flying fast enough that you have to choose whether to focus on the plane or the pilot. Note the stance...he is resisting a fair amount of force.

When they fly inverted the lines are crossed.

This time I focused on the pilot.

You can see the shadow of the sturdy iron fence that made me feel comfortable watching the contest.

Several pilots performed controtions to make the planes do what they wanted. If they were giving a prize for controtions, this guy should have won.
 

The speed and quick direction changes of these planes are amazing. Until I got used to it, I was sure they were going to crash into the ground every time they dove the planes.
 

Randy's red hat adds some color to the photo. Putting people with brightly colored clothes in landscape photos is a technique I have always associated with National Georgraphic.

The clouds and sky color were just about perfect for most of the moth of May. I felt like I was living in a postcard.

The guy in the blue shirt is not even looking at the planes as he calmly walks by the circle. I shot most of these pictures through the bars of a sturdy 6' iron fence. It felt very secure behind the fence. When I was on the other side of it, I felt a little nervous.

When the pilots are flying combat it almost looks like they are dancing.

Combat planes making some very tight turns.