Aerobatics course
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Amsterdam
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ultimate High at Kemble has a good reputation, and ads in every magazine. But the truth is that your aeros course are only going to be as good as your instructor. So if you can find someone who loves to do and teach them, and find a suitable airplane, you can do them anywhere.
AOPA has an example syllabus which anybody can use, and there's also a suggested syllabus in David Robsons book.
As an introduction, there are "Loop Beginners Days" organized by the BAeA, which you can attend with no aerobatics experience up front. They take you up in a suitable aircraft, teach you the basics and then you fly a mini-competition based on the BAeA "known" Basic sequence. More information about this on the BAeA site, Home page for the BAeA website.
AOPA has an example syllabus which anybody can use, and there's also a suggested syllabus in David Robsons book.
As an introduction, there are "Loop Beginners Days" organized by the BAeA, which you can attend with no aerobatics experience up front. They take you up in a suitable aircraft, teach you the basics and then you fly a mini-competition based on the BAeA "known" Basic sequence. More information about this on the BAeA site, Home page for the BAeA website.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: ATL
Age: 67
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Recommend reading Duane Cole's book, 'Roll Around a Point'. Only after you've memorized it, advance to Neil Williams', 'Aerobatics'. Neil fills some stuff in, since Duane's book is for absolute beginners. picked up keeping the power in on the down side of loops and hamerheads, from Neil's book, to keep the energy state up, and using g to control speed.
When you have that knowledge floating around in your head, the instructor will line it all up for you. You'll progress faster and get more for your money. Stay away from the sym for this, aerobatics are tactile; control forces and response, wind and engine noise, g forces, the smell of oil dumping out the breather, the feel of the skin moving on your face, loss of peripheral vision and color sense under heavy g onset rate, on....and on.
Good luck and Have Fun.
When you have that knowledge floating around in your head, the instructor will line it all up for you. You'll progress faster and get more for your money. Stay away from the sym for this, aerobatics are tactile; control forces and response, wind and engine noise, g forces, the smell of oil dumping out the breather, the feel of the skin moving on your face, loss of peripheral vision and color sense under heavy g onset rate, on....and on.
Good luck and Have Fun.
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: The laughing stock of the rest of the world!
Age: 73
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What CC said...Neil Williams 'Aerobatics' book is excellent, even for basic aero's, read the the theory then do the practice, enjoy.
Link to Neils' book :-
Aerobatics : Neil Williams
Link to Neils' book :-
Aerobatics : Neil Williams
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Anglia
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I recomend Alan Cassidys book Better Aerobatics
Better Aerobatics: v.1: Vol 1: Amazon.co.uk: Alan Cassidy: Books
or
Better Aerobatics Book by Alan Cassidy
Its very good on the basics but has a lot of depth if you want to go past the basics.
I found Duane Coles book only covered the basics.
Neil Williams book has a lot of interesting info other than how to fly aerobatics so is an enjoyable read.
Alans book is really only about aerobatics so is the best of the 3 in my opinion.
ZA
Better Aerobatics: v.1: Vol 1: Amazon.co.uk: Alan Cassidy: Books
or
Better Aerobatics Book by Alan Cassidy
Its very good on the basics but has a lot of depth if you want to go past the basics.
I found Duane Coles book only covered the basics.
Neil Williams book has a lot of interesting info other than how to fly aerobatics so is an enjoyable read.
Alans book is really only about aerobatics so is the best of the 3 in my opinion.
ZA
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: London
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I did my PPL at Elstree, but haven't been there for a while.
Firecrest Aviation were talking about picking up a 152 aerobat at the time but I don't know if they followed through with this.
The problem with Elstree is all the surrounding controlled airspace and altitude limits and a big part of any sortie will be getting out to somewhere where you cam climb above 3,000ft, etc. without busting airspace. I would also suggest the 152 aerobat is not the most capable plane.
If you're looking for a course I would think Kemble or my pesonal reccomendation, APS Training (if you fancy going a bit further), would be very good places. They are both staffed by ex military fast jet pilots and I think you would be hard pushed to find better. Aircraft are the Extra 300 or I think Kemble has a Bulldog too.
Other than that, as suggested maybe get in touch with Alan Cassidy at WW.
Firecrest Aviation were talking about picking up a 152 aerobat at the time but I don't know if they followed through with this.
The problem with Elstree is all the surrounding controlled airspace and altitude limits and a big part of any sortie will be getting out to somewhere where you cam climb above 3,000ft, etc. without busting airspace. I would also suggest the 152 aerobat is not the most capable plane.
If you're looking for a course I would think Kemble or my pesonal reccomendation, APS Training (if you fancy going a bit further), would be very good places. They are both staffed by ex military fast jet pilots and I think you would be hard pushed to find better. Aircraft are the Extra 300 or I think Kemble has a Bulldog too.
Other than that, as suggested maybe get in touch with Alan Cassidy at WW.
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Oop North, UK
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Firecrest Aviation were talking about picking up a 152 aerobat at the time but I don't know if they followed through with this.