Originally Posted by
On Track
Interesting cats_five... so how do you define "general aviation" then?
No payment to fly or watch. What a PPL / NPPL can do.
The second two examples you quoted whilst not large aircraft were both flights where the pilot was being paid. There are commercial elements to the racing as the spectators paid to watch, plus a website urging us to donate, plus sponsors, plus mega-bucks spent on the planes. Even if the pilots are not paid it's about as amateur as F1 racing is.
The second two examples would also have needed a CPL and I believe the racing has specific licence requirements as well.
Instructional flying for a PPL is a form of commercial flying by my definition - P1 is being paid and has specific licence and medical requitements to fulfill.