Basic Aerobatics with Patty Wagstaff

Improve your stick and rudder skills with tips from a legend

Ever wondered what it’s like to fly a loop or a roll? Maybe you’ve considered taking an upset recovery course to improve your stick and rudder skills? If so, then this course is for you. Basic Aerobatics with Patty Wagstaff puts you in the cockpit with an airshow legend to experience flight beyond straight and level.

More than just a list of maneuvers, this course explores the art and sport of high performance flying—it’s the perfect complement to in-airplane training. Almost four hours of video includes the history of aerobatics, what the industry looks like today, and how to get started. You’ll also learn about legal considerations for flying aerobatics, how to prepare physically, and the systems on different types of aerobatic airplanes.

Then you’ll dive into all the maneuvers, from basics like loops and rolls to combination maneuvers like cloverleafs and hammerheads. Stunning HD video shows Patty demonstrating every maneuver and is supplemented by sophisticated animations. In-depth segments describe every maneuver step-by-step, complete with split screen views and real world tips for smoother flying. You’ll also get answers to frequently asked questions and solutions to common errors.

Aerobatics can be flown in a wide variety of airplanes, so this course presents alternative techniques for how to fly each aerobatic maneuver when in an airplane without an inverted fuel and oil system. You’ll go flying in an RV, a Super Decathlon, and an Extra to see how each airplane requires a unique approach.

The course also includes bonus 360-degree videos showing each maneuver, with controls to pan around the cockpit and view the maneuver from any angle. You’ll feel like you’re riding in the airplane for every loop, roll, and spin.

Your host: Patty Wagstaff

Your host for this course hardly requires an introduction. Patty Wagstaff is one of the most famous airshow pilots in history: she’s a six-time member of the US Aerobatic Team, the first woman to win the title of US National Aerobatic champion, and one of the few people to win it three times. What you may not know is that Patty runs a busy flight school in Florida, teaching everyday pilots how to fly with more precision and airshow performers how to compete at the highest levels. You'll also learn from Patty’s colleagues, experienced aerobatic instructor Allan Moore and instructor and airshow performer Spencer Suderman.

Course structure

The course begins with an introduction to aerobatics, including a review of its history dating back to the 1900s and the first World War. You’ll learn about the role of aerobatics today, from competition and airshow flying to its place among private pilots looking to improve their flying skills. While many airplanes are capable of loops and rolls, that does not mean they are aerobatic airplanes. The best aerobatic airplanes are specialized machines. You’re about to see what makes them different—and the most fun to fly.

As you prepare for your first lesson, a dedicated section on Tips for Beginner Students covers commonly asked questions from those starting the aerobatic journey, including parachute requirements, what to wear and how to overcome motion sickness.

Next, the course presents a brief introduction to 18 of the most common aerobatic maneuvers, from rolls to tailslides, and how to interpret the Aresti symbol for each. Patty also demonstrates what it takes to build an airshow routine and demonstrates what goes into this type of flying from a recent performance at Oshkosh.

From there you’ll go in-depth to learn how to fly each of the six basic aerobatic maneuvers:

• Loop
• Aileron Roll
• Slow Roll
• Hesitation Roll
• Barrel Roll
• Spins

Each maneuver includes step-by-step instructions on how to fly the maneuver in a Super Decathlon, along with alternate procedures (when necessary) for flying in an airplane with non-inverted systems, like a Van's RV-6. You’ll then learn Patty’s signature tips and techniques, common errors, and how to stay out of trouble when flying each maneuver, based on her years of aerobatic flying experience. 

After mastering the basics, the course progresses into the same thorough training on the combination maneuvers:

• Cloverleaf
• Half Cuban Eight
• Immelmann
• Split S
• Reverse Half Cuban Eight
• Hammerhead

Finally, Patty explains how to combine multiple maneuvers into a sequence, and demonstrates complete versions of the IAC Primary and Sportsman sequences in her Super Decathlon.

"Superb Training Video... We were impressed by the quality and amount of work that went into the videos."

—The Aviation Consumer magazine

Available on all your devices—try for free:

Online Course using a web browser – Login here

iPhone/iPad in Sporty's Pilot Training app –Apple App Store

AppleTV app – 4th Generation AppleTV or newer

Android in Sporty's Pilot Training app – Google Play Store

RokuTV App – search for the Sporty's Pilot Training Channel on your Roku device