We are in the process of applying to do the AOPA Aerobatics course.

The first step of this process was for me to go to Leicester and brush up on my aerobatics with Dave Biddles who used to come as high as 5th in competitions flying an Aerobat and beating such exotic machinery such as Pitts Specials.

Fancy flying upside down in a Cessna?

The Cessna 152 Aerobat is not designed for aerobatics. It was designed as a stable very safe training aircraft, and so whenever you try to do anything unusual like spin it for example, it is trying to come out by itself. It is difficult to roll as the ailerons are very small, and by comparison to real aerobatic aircraft, the rudder is tiny. All this makes it very hard work to do even some simple things. The washout on the wings also contributes to this overall stability and difficulty in doing aeros.

However Dave is an expert, and he showed me the best ways of getting the best out of the aircraft, and he showed me some things that I did not even think were possible with an Aerobat, and they reminded me of doing Lomcevaks in a Stampe many years ago. To those who start doing aeros with me, I will show you what I mean once we get into the course.

At the moment I am in the process of getting the “No Aerobatics” restriction removed from my licence. I have never needed to do this before, but after my few days with Dave, everything we needed to do this has now been done except get the actual licence in my hand.

Once that is done, we have to apply to AOPA in order to do their courses, and once that is done then we can offer the full Basic course for now. For more advanced courses it may be better to go and fly somewhere with more aerobatic aircraft, but it may not be necessary. The Aerobat will actually perform all the Standard manoeuvres.

For anyone wanting to just experience what it is like doing aerobatics, then I am happy to oblige. We do not have the exotic expensive machinery, but you can still experience the thrill of being chucked around, and even have a go yourself at some of the simple things.

Chris