Photos: GB1 GameBird

Monday, October 31, 2016 at 11:25 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Flying magazine's Pia Bergqvist, alongside aerobatic champion Rob Holland, test-flew the new two-seat GB1 GameBird aerobatic airplane at AirVenture 2016.
The GameBird demonstrated impressive performance capabilities, including exceptional slow-flight maneuvers and aerobatic prowess without altitude loss.
Key features of the aircraft include its lightweight composite construction (1,290 pounds empty), a unique ballast chamber for quick center of gravity changes, and a noise-reducing four-blade MT-Propeller.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Flying magazine’s Pia Bergqvist recently had the chance to fly the GB1 GameBird, a new two-seat aerobatic airplane from Game Composites.

With some help from freestyle world aerobatic champion Rob Holland, we put the GameBird’s performance capabilities to the test — and we weren’t disappointed.

Check out some photos from our test flight at AirVenture 2016 in Oshkosh as well as some of the notable features that set this airplane apart from the rest.

GameBird GB1 — Flying editor Pia Bergqvist and aerobatic pilot Rob Holland prep for a test ride. Jon Whittle

GameBird GB1 — Video: Flying the Aerobatic GameBird GB1 Jon Whittle

GameBird GB1 — The composite airplane has an empty weight of just 1,290 pounds. Jon Whittle

GameBird GB1 — To show the ultimate edge of slow flight, aerobatic pilot Rob Holland applied tons of power, demonstrated a roll at zero airspeed, and came out without any altitude loss. Glenn Watson

GameBird GB1 — While the GB1 is flown from the rear seat, the forward visibility is decent. Jon Whittle

GameBird GB1 — On each side of the empennage is a ballast chamber that allows for a quick CG change. Jon Whittle

GameBird GB1 — A four-blade, wood-core/composite MT-Propeller prop cuts down on the GameBird’s noise. Jon Whittle

GameBird Angle of Attack — An AOA probe is attached to the oversize pitot tube. Jon Whittle

GameBird GB1 — Rob Holland pushed the edge of the GameBird’s flight envelope at Oshkosh this year. Glenn Watson

FLYING Magazine is a one-stop resource for everything aviation, including news, training, aircraft, gear, careers, photos, videos, and more.