Aerobatics

Patty Wagstaff show at JeffCo Airport in Denver, Colorado, June 2008

Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in conventional passenger-carrying flights. The term is a portmanteau of "aeroplane" and "acrobatics".[1][2] Aerobatics are performed in aeroplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment, and sport. Additionally, some helicopters, such as the MBB Bo 105, are capable of limited aerobatic manoeuvres.[3] An example of a fully aerobatic helicopter, capable of performing loops and rolls, is the Westland Lynx.

Most aerobatic manoeuvres involve rotation of the aircraft about its longitudinal (roll) axis or lateral (pitch) axis. Other maneuvers, such as a spin, displace the aircraft about its vertical (yaw) axis.[4] Manoeuvres are often combined to form a complete aerobatic sequence for entertainment or competition. Aerobatic flying requires a broader set of piloting skills and exposes the aircraft to greater structural stress than for normal flight.[5] In some countries, the pilot must wear a parachute when performing aerobatics.[6]

Aerobatic training enhances a pilot's ability to recover from unusual flight conditions, and thus is an element of many flight safety training programs for pilots. While many pilots fly aerobatics for recreation, some choose to fly in aerobatic competitions, a judged sport.[7]

  1. ^ "Civil Aviation Rules Part 1" (PDF). Government publication. New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority. 23 October 2008. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  2. ^ "FAR 91.303". USA Federal Aviation Administration. Archived from the original on 8 December 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
  3. ^ "Red Bull Bo-105 CBS Helicopter". Web page. Red Bull. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  4. ^ Williams, Neil (1975). Aerobatics. L. R. Williams, Illustrator. Surrey, England: Airlife Publishing Ltd. pp. 32, et seq. ISBN 0-9504543-0-3.
  5. ^ Langewiesche, Wolfgang (1944). Stick and Rudder. Jo Kotula, Illustrator. New York: McGraw Hill, Inc. p. 327. ISBN 0-07-036240-8.
  6. ^ "FAR 91.307(c)". USA Federal Aviation Administration. Archived from the original on 8 December 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
  7. ^ Howard, Brian, ed. (2009). Official Contest Rules. Oshkosh, Wisconsin, US: International Aerobatic Club. pp. 1–7.