To say that not every pilot can fly Aerobatics would be a major understatement! Taught to military fighter pilots as a way of enhancing flight skills and for combat tactical use, Aerobatics is the art of flying maneuvers not found in normal flight. Frequently, smoke is used to enhance the maneuvers, allowing viewer to better see the path of aircraft. "The Black Cats" were the first military aerobatic team to use smoke in September of 1957.
"There are a number of countries that have such teams," Dale Wescott, President of TURBINE TRAINING in Manhattan, Kansas shared, "and often they are the featured attraction at airshows attended by the public."
The chart below gives information about some of those countries and their Aerobatic teams:
|
Country |
Team Name & Facts |
|
France |
The Patrouille Acrobatique de France - Begun in 1931, this is the world’s oldest demonstration team. Currently they fly the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet. |
|
Great Britain |
The Red Arrows - Known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team officially, the group was founded in 1946. |
|
India |
Surya Kiran - Formed in 1996 with 13 pilots. They fly mostly HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 Military Trainers. |
|
Italy |
The Freece Tricolori - Formed in 1961 as an Air Force team. |
|
Russia |
The Strizhi (Swifts) - Formed in May of 1996. Stationed at Kubinka Air Base, they flew MiG-29s in 2013. The Falcons - Established in 2006 at Lipetsk Air Base, they fly MiG-29s and Su-27s. |
|
United States |
The Blue Angels - US Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron. Formed in 1946, They fly the F/A-18 Hornet, appearing in some 70 airshows in 34 locations each year. The Thunderbirds - Demonstration Squadron of the US Air Force. Stationed at Nellis AFB in Nevada. |
"Many people can get airsick just watching these squads perform," Jason Wolcott offered, a grin in his voice.
If you suffer from airsickness, or motion sickness for that matter, here are some worthwhile tips you may want to keep in mind:
- Get some stability - Believe it or not, placing your hand on a flat, stable surface can ward off nausea.
- Ingest Ginger - Candy, ginger cookies, tablets, or even ginger ale will help.
- Just Breathe - Deeply!
- Eat Something - An empty stomach is more susceptible to motion sickness.
- Keep Your Chin Up - If your head is up and facing straight ahead you have found a great "preventative measure" to combat motion sickness.
As one of the leading cessna training centers in the country, they feature both Initial and Recurrent Training for Cessna Caravan, Cessna 208 training; King Air 90 Training, King Air 200 Training and King Air 300 Training. If you have any questions about the process for receiving TRAINING, contact TURBINE TRAINING at 1-866-335-1224 or
(To learn more about this topic check out "Best Aerobatic Teams," "Aerobatic Rides," and "Tips for Motion Sickness."