"Aerobatics" are any maneuver that places the aircraft in an unusual attitude, or simply a maneuver that is not necessary for normal flight. By that standard, private pilots initially appproach aerobatic maneuvers as soon as they begin to perform steep turns (45 deg.), one of the required skills on the FAA's Private Pilot Practical Test Standards.

Additional maneuvers, such as chandelles, lazy eights, and eights-on-pylons, are part of the Commercial Pilot Practical Test Standards, while all Certified Flight Instructors must demonstrate proficiency in spins. But most aerobatics, as we think of them, are more complex — the sort we thrill to see at an aerobatic competition or summer airshow. Some are simple maneuvers, such as an aileron roll, while others are more advanced and impressively graceful such as the Immelman and Hammerhead. And in competition, aerobatic pilots will perform routines that link several maneuvers together in a single performance.

It's a long way to go if you plan to become a proficient aerobatic pilot. But if you already have your Private Pilot certificate, you're probably ready to learn more, not only for the fun and challenge of flying aerobatics, but because it makes all pilots more proficient aviators in normal flight.

 
Unusual Attitude Training

Unlike aerobatics, which combines airmanship with competition (and often public entertainment), unusual attitude training should be an important aspect of every pilot's cumulative flight experience. A basic course (3-4 hours flight-time) exposes pilots to attitudes such as stalls, spins, inverted flight, inadvertant entry into instrument meterological conditions (IMC), and aircraft recovery after loss of control. The emphasis of this training is on safety, pushing pilots to find and understand what it means to be on the "outside of the envelope." Pilots with sufficent unusual atttitude training understand not only how to manage an unexpected attitudes, but also how to anticipate and avoid them.

 
Want to know more?

If you think you're ready to try your hand at unusual attitudes or aerobatics, contact us to arrange an Aerobatic Discovery Flight. You also are welcome to drop in to the regular meeting of the local aerobatic club, which meets the third Saturday of every month at Willamette Aviation. Visit www.iac77.org for more information.