Aerobatic Stars for Everyday Pilots

You don't have to be an ace to compete in these acro aircraft.

Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 06:09 PM ET

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There are many options for aerobatic airplanes that will provide you with the fun, maneuverability, power, and strength required for the sport. [Courtesy: Glenn Watson]

Key Takeaways:

Aerobatic airplanes come in various categories, including warbirds, experimental models, and fully certified options, each with distinct capabilities and limitations.
The American Champion Decathlon offers an affordable, two-seat certified option, available in 180 hp and 210 hp models equipped for inverted flight.
The Aviat Aircraft Pitts S-1T is a compact, high-performance single-seat certified biplane capable of unlimited category aerobatics, with a larger two-seat S-2C also offered.
The Extra Aircraft NG stands out as an all-composite, high-performance certified aircraft suitable for competitive aerobatics and widely used for upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT).

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There are many options for aerobatic airplanes that will provide you with the fun, maneuverability, power, and strength required for the sport. Some people fly war-birds, such as the Nanchang CJ-6 and Sukhoi Su-26. Military trainers such as the Stearman are also popular for slow, light aerobatics. However, many warbirds have strict limitations under the experimental exhibition category, so they might not be ideal for your mission.

On the experimental side, there are many terrific airplanes that can satisfy your aerobatic itch. Aviat Aircraft’s Eagle is a popular choice, and Van’s Aircraft offers several capable models in its RV series. If you’re looking to do more advanced aerobatics, MX Aircraft and Zivko Aeronautics, known for the MXS and the Edge, respectively, provide great choices too.