Out of interest Dennis, how many successful display pilots have arrived via a direct/deliberate path? That is to say, set out with display and aerobatic flying as their goal, as opposed to a development from initially a certain length of more regular commercial flying maybe?
It guess many are from a military or manufacturer testing background (understandably), but are there many of the top guys that came effectively from a PPL and straight into aerobatic training? I understand the relatively small world that it is, and the considerable costs early on... but has it been done by many?
Just the Enstrom 280/280c and 480 Turbine, the Schweizer 269 series, MD 500 series and the Westland Scout.
"Just"! Which is/was your favourite, and the most inherently natural for display work, as supplied, in an overall sense?