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 span various categories, including warbirds/military trainers (though often with exhibition limitations), experimental designs like Aviat's Eagle or Van's RV series, and high-performance experimental models such as the MXS or Edge.
Among fully certified options, the American Champion Decathlon offers an affordable entry point with inverted fuel/oil systems, while the compact Aviat Pitts S-1T provides unlimited aerobatic capability.
For advanced and competitive aerobatics, the German-designed Extra Aircraft NG stands out as a high-performance, all-composite certified airplane, widely used in competitions and upset prevention and recovery 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.