PPL for aerobatics...

[kryten]

I did an aerobatic experience in an Extra 300 on Saturday and was still on a high hours later.

As soon as we were off the ground, instructor did a vertical climb with the runway still below us.

Then did rolls, barrel rolls, loop, figure 8 and combinations plus a stall turn - each time, the instructor did one to show me, then I did a few of each - it was so controllable, just amazingly responsive.

Pulling a half loop into inverted flight with negative G was just unbelieveable and then just a half roll to get upright again.

I've done all sorts of adrenaline stuff over the years, rollercoasters, rally, cars, bikes but NOTHING came close

Just wondering if anyone has done a PPL and then progressed fairly soon to doing aerobatics - not competatively but just for fun? Wondering how feasible it really is to aim for that...

[eharding]

You can start at any time - I began the AOPA course the day after my PPL skills test, but some people fly for years - decades even - before they get the aeros bug.

The AOPA course is an excellent, structured introduction to aerobatics, and to an extent offers a stepping-stone to competition aeros if you decide you want to go down that route. It is offered on a variety of types at different establishments, but IMHO I'd say the Pitts S2 is at the best price/performance point - in more lardy types, you will be spending money climbing back to height between figures, anything with a bit more oomph is probably wasted.

Edited:....and if the Extra 300 gave you an buzz, the Sbach 342 will probably cause your ears to drop off...it makes the 300 feel like a cart-horse

Edited by eharding on Wednesday 27th July 01:17

[RichB]

eharding said:

I'd say the Pitts S2 is at the best price/performance point - in more lardy types, you will be spending money climbing back to height between figures...

You use an engine to help with aero's? pufff... engines are for whimps! We just take a tow to 3000' and do it from there.

[shouldbworking]

RichB said:

You use an engine to help with aero's? pufff... engines are for whimps! We just take a tow to 3000' and do it from there.

3000? pff

[eharding]

RichB said:

You use an engine to help with aero's? pufff... engines are for whimps! We just take a tow to 3000' and do it from there.

Go on then...show me a torque roll in your "engines are for whimps" chutney-ferret wagon.

[RichB]

shouldbworking said:

RichB said:

You use an engine to help with aero's? pufff... engines are for whimps! We just take a tow to 3000' and do it from there.

3000? pff

Is that Pete Wells and his "Twister" display?

[Arun_D]

Where did you do your 300 experience? I've not had the thrill of Aerobatics since my cadet days and would love to give an Extra a go.

[shouldbworking]

RichB said:

Is that Pete Wells and his "Twister" display?

Tis indeed. It was astounding, I've never seen a glider put through its paces like that. The ability required to know exactly what he can do with so little altitude must be immense.

[eharding]

shouldbworking said:

RichB said:

Is that Pete Wells and his "Twister" display?

Tis indeed. It was astounding, I've never seen a glider put through its paces like that. The ability required to know exactly what he can do with so little altitude must be immense.

That looks like the Team Swift Pawnee/Glider combo rather than the Silence Twister...

[RichB]

Pete rolls his Twister around the glider while it's rolling in the opposite direction on tow behind the Pawnee.

I assume you know about this? http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by RichB on Wednesday 27th July 18:00

[shouldbworking]

maybe its not that one. It was the display at Yeovilton Air day this year if that helps. A quick google and glance at the results suggested it was the one you first mentioned, but maybe not.

Looks like a decidely rough landing - best of luck with his recovery

edit :
Looking at some footage from the event the glider has gliderfx.com on it, which makes it the swift aerobatic team.

Edited by shouldbworking on Wednesday 27th July 19:37

[JW911]

http://www.swipteam.com/Pages/default.aspx

One hopes none of the pilots are married to ladies from north of the border......

[ninja-lewis]

shouldbworking said:

maybe its not that one. It was the display at Yeovilton Air day this year if that helps. A quick google and glance at the results suggested it was the one you first mentioned, but maybe not.

Looks like a decidely rough landing - best of luck with his recovery

edit :
Looking at some footage from the event the glider has gliderfx.com on it, which makes it the swift aerobatic team.

Edited by shouldbworking on Wednesday 27th July 19:37

AIUI Team Swift used to comprise the glider doing aerobatics on aerotow with the Pawnee while a SA180 Silence Twister did more aeros around the two. Then they built a second Twister and used the pair to set up Twister Duo - now called SWIP Team for sponsorship - last year leaving Swift (now calling themselves Gliderfx) with just the glider and Pawnee in their display. Hence the confusion amongst posters perhaps.

Anyway, their new twilight displays with fireworks on the wingtips are superb!