How to become an Acrobatic pilot

[SaberFlyer]

How do you become an acrobatic pilot and compete? Do anyone of you know?

[TXaviator]

i took the class at my school. SUPER fun time.

[MikeOH58]

Originally Posted by SaberFlyer

How do you become an acrobatic pilot and compete? Do anyone of you know?

Buy a green flight suit and show up to a circus. Now if you want to be an aerobatic pilot......................................

start by using google.

http://www.iac.org/

[AngelFuree]

Originally Posted by MikeOH58

Buy a green flight suit and show up to a circus. Now if you want to be an aerobatic pilot......................................

start by using google.

http://www.iac.org/

I'm so glad somebody else notice this....I've always wondered why many people refer to it as "acrobatics." Funny enough, I think the definition has expanded to now include aerobatic flight, but I agree it should be called "aerobatics" as originally intended. I can already sense someone giving me crap for being a "grammar nazi." (of course, it's not about grammar)

Good question by the original poster, though. Many places offer aerobatics courses. I think what he was trying to get at was primarily the process of becoming competitive and participating in those big events.

[tgrayson]

Originally Posted by AngelFuree

I agree it should be called "aerobatics"

Now write a letter to the FAA and ask them to correct all their material that refers to "acrobatic".

[TXaviator]

i am trying to tone down my grammar nazism. but yes, it is not ACRObatic is AERObatic.

[AngelFuree]

Originally Posted by tgrayson

Now write a letter to the FAA and ask them to correct all their material that refers to "acrobatic".

Did you know that FAA employees were.......*gasp*......human too? The fact the FAA publishes material w/ the use of the word does not make it correct. They do not make dictionary entries, let's remember that...

Originally Posted by m-w.com

acrobatics
Main Entry:ac·ro·bat·ics Pronunciation: \ˌa-krə-ˈba-tiks\ Function:noun plural but singular or plural in construction Date:1882 1 : the art, performance, or activity of an acrobat 2 : a spectacular, showy, or startling performance or demonstration involving great agility or complexity

Main Entry:aer·o·bat·ics Pronunciation: \ˌer-ə-ˈba-tiks\ Function:noun plural but singular or plural in construction Etymology:aer- + acrobaticsDate:circa 1911 : spectacular flying feats and maneuvers (as rolls and dives)
— aer·o·bat \ˈer-ə-ˌbat\ noun
— aer·o·bat·ic \ˌer-ə-ˈba-tik\ adjective

However, the use of the word HAS been adapted to an aviation use and aviators have adopted the use of the word for referring to aerobatics.

[tgrayson]

Originally Posted by AngelFuree

The fact the FAA publishes material w/ the use of the word does not make it correct.

Actually, it does. Dictionaries just document word usage, they don't create it. The fact that the FAA uses the word "acrobatic" all through its literature, including the federal regulations, means that it is a proper usage of the word.

[t-cart]

What the #### does it really matter.Apparently we all knew what the guy was talking about.Wow,Aint nobody perfect.Yeah,I said aint,so what.

[AngelFuree]

Originally Posted by tgrayson

Actually, it does. Dictionaries just document word usage, they don't create it. The fact that the FAA uses the word "acrobatic" all through its literature, including the federal regulations, means that it is a proper usage of the word.

How is it proper usage if it is not documented in dictionaries as such?

[MikeOH58]

I should have just held my tongue! Look at what i've started hehe...

Well, while we are on it, maybe the FAA could start using the word "bling". It is in the dictionary hehe =)

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This bling
nounflashy, ostentatious jewelry; "the rapper was loaded with bling"
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.

[Velocipede]

Easy answer: Fly an airplane upside down. Voila. You are one.

[tgrayson]

Originally Posted by AngelFuree

How is it proper usage if it is not documented in dictionaries as such?

I was wondering if you'd catch that.



One well-known newspaper writer was a bit irritated when a "nazi" wrote in to correct the wording in an article he had written. His response was

Your job is to document new word usages created by people like me.

And that's pretty much the way it happens. Here's what Merriam-Webster says about new words:

The way new words are put into the dictionary is through usage. The publisher has full-time dictionary editors on staff who spend time monitoring words people use, how often they use them and how they use them. The editors read tons of published material from different sources such as newpapers, magazines, books and electronic publications.

Words that have potential to be put into the dictionary are tracked. These words of interest are cited, along with the passage they were used in, and entered into a computer system. These files were begun in the 1880's.

Next, definers start reviewing the citations. They not only search for new words but also for new meanings to old words as well. In order to become a dictionary entry, the word must have a large number of citations from varying types of publications. Also, the size and type of dictionary help determine whether a word will be included or not. For instance, the "Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary" has only limited space and therefore is not totally complete. Larger, unabridged dictionaries, such as "Webster's Third New International Dictionary" have room for many more entries.

Each year anywhere from 50 to 100 new words are added to the dictionary. If you have an older publication it's wise to update every few years to keep up with new words.

[Berkut]

Originally Posted by t-cart

What the #### does it really matter.Apparently we all knew what the guy was talking about.Wow,Aint nobody perfect.Yeah,I said aint,so what.

[LoadMasterC141]

An argument about semantics.

[waverebel]

take an acro course where you learn the primary seq. manuevers. Any good acro. instructor should be able to tell you the manuevers - your looking at a primary loop, half cuban, 1 turn spin, slow roll and 90 degree comp turn. Learn to fly the sequence well and stay in the box - then check the IAC site for a competition in your area. Join IAC, get a safety pilot and show up. The communities are pretty tight, find someone involved and ask em where and when. Most of all - have fun

[USMC-SGT]

the current primary is a 45 upline, 1 turn spin, loop, 180 degree competition turn and ended with a slowroll.

I taught aerobatics and got a few people into competitions, what waver said is accurate. We would have a program where we would teach all of the primary maneuvers to include botched maneuver recovery and also tailwheel endorsement. At the end of the course (usually 10-15 hours) you would walk out with your tailwheel endorsement and the signoff to solo the airplane to the practice area to practice your new skills. We would also set you up with any number of people (to include the staff) to get you to your first IAC contest to compete in primary with one of the instructors as your safety pilot.

We had great success in this program and *knock on wood* all of the signoffs did very well in the practice area and with the tailwheel in general and we had no problems.

If the student desired we could take them all the way from primary class to unlimited with a transition into the extra 300 if desired.

any other questions fire away.

[smokey1]

It's not really how long, but how much.

[SIUav8er]

Originally Posted by waverebel

take an acro course where you learn the primary seq. manuevers. Any good acro. instructor should be able to tell you the manuevers - your looking at a primary loop, half cuban, 1 turn spin, slow roll and 90 degree comp turn. Learn to fly the sequence well and stay in the box - then check the IAC site for a competition in your area. Join IAC, get a safety pilot and show up. The communities are pretty tight, find someone involved and ask em where and when. Most of all - have fun

OMG!!111!!!! he said ACRO!!111!!!! NOOB!!!

(I still say acrobatics too, cause thats whats in the pilot controller glossary.)

[Hacker15e]

Originally Posted by USMC-SGT

We would have a program where we would teach all of the primary maneuvers to include botched maneuver recovery and also tailwheel endorsement. At the end of the course (usually 10-15 hours) you would walk out with your tailwheel endorsement and the signoff to solo the airplane to the practice area to practice your new skills. We would also set you up with any number of people (to include the staff) to get you to your first IAC contest to compete in primary with one of the instructors as your safety pilot.

What was the cost of a course like this?

[USMC-SGT]

it varied but of course was expensive as everything is in the northeast.

The plane was in incredible shape and was an under 1000 hour 8KCAB and that went for I believe a few dollars over $150/hr and the CFI went for $50/hr so people were looking at $200/hr give or take a few bucks. I have had some do the course in 8 hours and some in the high twenty hour range but a conservative estinate is two thousand bucks. It is far from a thrown together program though and worth the money, I would say it is probably one of the most respected programs in the country and has been featured in a few of the popular flying magazines, part of that though is probably because it is ran my Michael Goulian.

[Doug Taylor]

Originally Posted by SaberFlyer

How do you become an acrobatic pilot and compete? Do anyone of you know?

No idea, but go here: http://jbairshows.com

Email Jeff, he's my co-worker and used to live down the street from me in Scottsdale.

Tell him Doug Taylor sent you and that you have some questions about competitive aerobatics.

[moxiepilot]

i dont know where blacksburg is (VA?) but you can usually find a few places that offer training, like Van Sant in PA, or by knowing someone who knows someone - 1998 US unlimited category Bruce everett, baeverett@comcast.net who would train you in his Pitts out of KLOM.

Its a hoot, but the circut is grueling and if you're not sponsored, can be real tough.

[waverebel]

If your in the south look up Harvey and Rihn Aviation. Its run by debby rihn-harvey, a world class aerobatic pilot. We do most of the training in a '03 8KCAB as well, with the opportunity to move into a S2B. Decathalon rents for 126/hour with 40 for instruction.

[typhoonpilot]

Originally Posted by SaberFlyer

How do you become an acrobatic pilot and compete? Do anyone of you know?

Join the IAC; take lessons from an IAC approved school/instructor; then practice, practice, practice; and finally compete at an IAC sanctioned event.

TP