While I know that you are a safe RC pilot, Johnny, I must point out that it's not always "at sanctioned flying fields". In fact, most of the recent accidents (including the fatal near-decapitation in New York a few years ago) have occurred at public parks.
I get really prickly when other RC pilots feel the need to defend these "professionals" depicted in videos doing dangerous maneuvers with no regard to where it's being done or who is at risk. I don't care how good a pilot thinks he is, there are crashes that can (and will eventually) happen that will be beyond their control. The key is where they might happen and who is at risk, but this point is often lost on many.
Sure, in this video the only two people at real risk are the pilot and the spotter. Presumably, both of them are well informed of these risks, and are choosing to take them. Also, this is at a designated flying field and during a sanctioned event. Wonderful. I have no issue with that. (Although the rotor ground-strike while inverted is a very dangerous move even so - how far do you think a rotor blade might fly if the hub failed.?.)
But I've also seen videos from supposed professional fliers (who really should know better) doing stunts like this in a forest, or in a park with non-fliers present. There is a famous one of a guy flying an electric 700 CP in a very small clearing (maybe 75 to 100 feet from one treeline to the other, with overhanging branches) and his clueless buddy (note: not a spotter!) is standing in FRONT of the operator while the bird performs various risky maneuvers just a few feet away from him. Irresponsible doesn't even begin to describe it. One failed servo link and his buddy would have been dead.
Yet when someone gets called out for posting a video of someone doing something that is clearly irresponsible and totally against IRCHA guidelines they always respond with "But this guy is a pro and he does this all the time!" Yes, and those are the "pros" that have accidents that hurt people. And that makes everyone look bad. Also, when you have an accident with a 700-class Heli and a person, it's going to cause serious bodily harm, if not death. A true professional would never be so reckless.
Put another way, just because someone has amazing flying skills doesn't mean they are a responsible, professional flyer. You don't get a pass on the rules just because you're good. All the skill in the world won't save your ass if you lose a servo link or break a blade hinge and the damned bird is 5 feet away from you (with the rotor at full rpm!).
That being said, the folks I've seen fly at SELEM are very aware of safety and would never do these things. We had a long discussion about flying Johnny's 600 class Heli at SELEM back in 2015 before he actually flew it in the field across the street, and both Randy and Chris chimed in on safety issues before we ever actually did the demo. And of course, it was very safe (and also very impressive) and everyone enjoyed it. So I do understand their defense of how they fly.
But that's not the same for all RC pilots, and it really bugs me when people are so quick to jump to a pilot's defense before considering whether the IRCHA guidelines were really being followed or not...
Adam (stepping off the soapbox)