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Many people dream of flying; some wish to make it an art. Compared to the more than 350,000 commercial airline pilots believed to be active worldwide, only a small number of certificated pilots will choose aerobatics \u2013 an aviation discipline that relies on precision, physical and psychological fitness, plus quick decision-making, all of which determine not only the success of their performance but also their survival.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Aerobatic pilots do more than simply fly. They test the limits of physics, skill and endurance in ways few others do. While most pilots focus on getting from one point to another safely, aerobatic flying is about pushing the boundaries and anticipating challenges.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, this is not an area that can be entered into on a whim. Aerobatic pilots need to be familiar with aerodynamics and the nuances of aircraft control during different maneuvers, but they must also prepare for enormous physical and physiological stress.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
Some maneuvers generate extreme gravitational forces, making the pilot change their weight from +800 kilograms to -800 kilograms or even more within fractions of seconds. Without proper preparation, such loads can cause a loss of consciousness due to reduced blood flow to the brain or due to dangerously high blood pressure levels.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here, AeroTime explores aerobatic flying, looking at how it differs from commercial aviation, the technical and psychological skills aerobatic pilots must have, and the risks associated with this unique discipline.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before World War I, aerobatic maneuvers were demonstrated both as a form of crowd entertainment and as a means of testing aircraft capabilities. With the development of military aviation, aerobatic maneuvers became crucial during aerial combat, also known as dogfighting, and were thus introduced into military pilot training<\/a>. Nevertheless, aerobatic flying is not a mandatory part of every pilot\u2019s training.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n According to SNS Insider data<\/a>, the aerobatic aircraft market is anticipated to grow to $1.294.2 million by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1% from 2024 to 2032. North America is expected to lead this market. Data from Stellar Market Research<\/a> confirms this trend, noting that, in 2020, the United States had the highest number of licensed aerobatic pilots.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Igoris Lobanovas, a Lithuanian airline pilot, captain and instructor, with almost 8000 hours of flying experience on more than 50 aircraft types, spoke with AeroTime about his experience combining commercial flying with sports aerobatics for more than 10 years.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI started flying gliders from the age of 15,\u201d Lobanovas said. \u201cWhile I was flying them, I practiced aerobatic maneuvers secretly from the aeroclub administration and already knew I wanted to become an aerobatic pilot. It seemed to me that this is the narrowest niche in aviation that was challenging to enter, and I wanted to pursue it.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n\n Lobanovas began his aerobatic career in 2014 with the Yak-52 aircraft. His first competitions took place in Lithuania, where he earned gold medals in the Primary and Sportsman categories. He has since flown many aerobatic aircraft, including the Yak-55, the Extra-300, Extra-330SC, the GenPro, the Su-26M and others.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Currently, he flies the \u2018Sbach 342\u2019 (Xtremeair XA42) aircraft at the Vilnius Darius and Gir\u0117nas aeroclub. In 2020, Lobanovas, together with his aerobatic colleagues, founded the Iron Wolf Aerobatics, which gathered local professional pilots to form a modern aerobatic team. He made his debut a year later at the World Advanced Aerobatic Championship 2021.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)<\/a> defines aerobatic flight as a pilot abruptly changing an aircraft\u2019s angle in relation to the ground, taking an abnormal position (such as flying upside down), or accelerating abnormally. As Lobanovas explained, a commercial pilot\u2019s main job is to ensure the safety of everyone on board, whereas aerobatics focuses on showcasing piloting skills.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe essence of aerobatics as a traditional sport involves flying a specific sequence of maneuvers in the air as accurately as possible, with as few mistakes as possible,\u201d Lobanovas said, adding that aerobatics is expensive and only attracts a small number of enthusiasts.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \n<\/center><\/p>\nHow aerobatic flying differs from commercial aviation\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n