Flight Training - March/April 2025 - 36

I
If you tend to develop a knot in your stomach
approaching a stall, you are not alone. The anxiety of
pushing an airplane past the limits of lift is common
for student pilots, and many of us figure out soon
enough that the stall-and recovery-is just another
maneuver to master.
But the element of fear does not always fade,
and if the prospect of stalling an airplane makes
you as uneasy as I once was (even after passing my
private pilot checkride), consider spending an hour
or two in an aerobatic airplane with a competent
instructor whose skills you trust.
International A WHERE TO BEGIN
erobatic Club (IAC) volunteers maintain
an online directory of aerobatic flight schools, with listings
in most states as well as several other countries. The same
schools and instructors often offer upset recovery training,
which may be required for professional pilots in some situations,
depending on the operator, aircraft, and insurance. This
is a variation of aerobatic training that can achieve the fundamental
goal of building confidence and a deep understanding
of how to avoid or recover from (unplanned) aircraft upsets.
Many of these same instructors also offer the spin endorsement
you will need to earn a flight instructor certificate.
For some pilots, a taste of aerobatic flight is enough to
inspire a lifetime of friendly competition, and the IAC sanctions
aerobatic contests around the country. Contestants
fly in one of five categories, from Primary to Unlimited,
depending on experience and ability. Primary competition
requires mastering a short sequence of relatively simple
maneuvers. As pilots gain experience, and fly more capable
aircraft, many aspire to master the mind-bending complexity
of an Unlimited sequence.
Each journey begins with the simplest maneuvers, for
good reason. It's difficult to predict enthusiasm ahead of
experience, so you can start with a goal to simply experience
aerobatic flight. Schedule an introductory ride and have a
good conversation with your chosen instructor about what
you seek to accomplish.
Even one lesson will probably help you develop a finer
" feel " for how the airplane moves and how it responds in
various attitudes. With enough repetition, you will begin
to feel comfortable in a tight harness and know what to
expect-and what to do next-if the airplane starts to spin
out of a stall. Setting that initial goal will help guide you to
the right instructor and airplane. While aerobatics can be
taught in a variety of airplanes, the American Champion
Decathlon family is probably the most popular line of aerobatic
trainers, with variants including the 160-horsepower
Citabria, the 180-horsepower Super Decathlon, and the
210-horsepower Xtreme Decathlon. There are differences
between these models beyond horsepower, but they are all
well-suited to beginners.
You will also find many Extra Aircraft at schools (or operated
by individual instructors), particularly those that teach
upset recovery. Designer Walter Extra became an aerobatic
legend for good reason, and his single-seat EA-330SC was by
36
FLIGHT TRAINING MARCH/APRIL 2025
MIKE FIZER
EVEN ONE LESSON WILL PROBABLY HELP YOU DEVELOP A FINER " FEEL " FOR HOW
THE AIRPLANE MOVES AND HOW IT RESPONDS IN VARIOUS ATTITUDES.
Flight Training - March/April 2025

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