Why did Stachel lie about that?

[BuzPezold]

AW! Pete,

You gave away too much about the book for those who have not read it!

The film makes the scene more ambigious, the viewer cannot be sure whether Stachel is merely trying to out-fly Willi and is he really trying to fly his rival into the ground?

I have to somewhat disagree with you here. In the movie Stachel flies under the bridge at the middle wider stanchion bridge supports. Willie follows suit. Then Stachel successfully flies under the bridge between the stachion bridge supports with less separtation. Willie then reluctantly follows suit and of course the rest is "history" for Von Klugerman. The movie depicts Willie showing his confidence being shaken as he makes that run. My point is if Willie would have made it on that run Stachel would have done something else such as fly under the bridge upside down until one of them would lose their life. That's my take concerning this about the movie!

Buz

[Pete Hill]

Yes, that could be true. But the expression on Stachel's face as he witnesses Willi's fatal crash isn't exactly a look of triumph.
Pete