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 forms, including experimental models, warbirds, and military trainers, but the article specifically details three popular fully certified options.
The American Champion Decathlon is an affordable, two-seat tandem taildragger, with Decathlon models (starting around $305,000) equipped for aerobatics and offering +6/-5 G load limits.
The Aviat Aircraft Pitts S-1T is a compact, single-seat aircraft (from $357,500) capable of unlimited category maneuvers, with the S-2C offering a two-seat, higher-powered alternative.
The Extra Aircraft NG is a modern, all-composite, high-performance certified option (approx. $431,000) known for its exceptional +/- 10 G load limits and use in advanced aerobatics and training.

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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.