upon completing training mckellar was deemed to have exceptional eyesight which earned him a reputation as a good marksman in air-to-air combat. yet, paradoxically, when shooting with his rifle he was a well below average shot—a trait he shared with some other successful pilots. mackellar was a keen sportsman. he believed physical fitness was a critical attribute in aerial combat; fitness, he believed, would ensure that the mind and body were always at their peak of alertness, and enable a pilot to react swiftly within a fluid battle situation.