Aerobatics

Aerobatics is the demonstration of flying maneuvers involving abnormal flight attitudes that are not used in normal flight.[1] Aerobatics are demonstrated for training, recreation and entertainment.Many aerobatic maneuvers involve rotation of the aircraft about its longtitudinal axis (rolling) or the pitch axis (looping). Some complex maneuvers, such as a spin, also require that the aircraft be displaced around a vertical axis, known as yawing. Maneuvers are often combined to allow the aircraft to complete aerobatic sequences to entertain the public or as part of a competition.

Aerobatic flying requires a higher set of piloting skills than for normal flight, exposes the aircraft to greater structural stress and carries a risk for the pilot who must combat disorientation and g forces. In some countries, the pilot must wear a parachute when performing aerobatics. Aerobatics is practiced as a sport. Many pilots fly solely for recreation, but world-wide several hundred pilots choose to fly in aerobatic competitions.

In the early days of flying, some pilots used their aircraft as part of a flying circus to entertain. Maneuvers that had no practical purpose were flown for artistic reasons or to draw gasps from onlookers. In due course some of these maneuvers were found to allow aircraft to gain tactical advantage during aerial combat or dogfights between fighter aircraft.

Aerobatic aircraft usually fall into two categories—specialist aerobatic, and aerobatic capable. Specialist designs such as the Pitts Special, the Extra 200 and 300, and the Sukhoi Su-29 aim for ultimate aerobatic performance. This comes at the expense of general purpose use such as touring, or ease of non aerobatic handling such as landing. At a more basic level, aerobatic capable aircraft, such as the Cessna 152 Aerobat model, can be dual purpose—equipped to carrying passengers and luggage, easy to land, as well as being capable of basic aerobatic figures.