6 Must-Do Maneuvers When Flying in a Stunt Plane for the First Time

If you’ve ever watched an air show and wanted to be one of the pilots, then your dreams are about to come true. Passengers have a chance to fly in a real stunt plane and experience gravity-pushing maneuvers that will get the adrenaline pumping by booking a flying experience with Sky Combat Ace. Here are the top six maneuvers to do in one of our stunt planes during your first flight.

What is a Stunt Plane?

First things first—what is a stunt plane? There are many different types of stunt planes. A stunt plane is one that can deliver enough speed and thrust to create the G-forces needed to perform different maneuvers in the air. One of the best stunt planes is the Extra 330LC. It has a G-force load factor of positive and negative 10! Some stunt newbies prefer to fly the Super Decathlon. This stunt plane can’t do quite as many airplane tricks as the Extra, but you’ll be able to take it through a few basic moves without diving straight into the high-intensity stunts.

1. The Inside Loop

Most novice flyers looking to get their aerobatic feet wet start out with the inside loop. It is one of the easiest maneuvers, and it will help you adjust to inverting your body. To start the inside loop, the stunt pilot will fly straight and into the wind. Then, the pilot will begin to pull back gently on the steering column to climb, allowing the plane to continue climbing until it’s vertical. Pulling back until the plane shifts onto its back, the next step is to shut down the throttle while holding the steering column back. As you make your way down, the pilot allows the plane to level off. And just like that, you’ll have performed an inside loop!

2. The Outside Loop

An outside loop is basically the same stunt as the inside loop. But for this move, the airplane begins the trick inverted by moving the steering column in the opposite direction. Also, this move produces strong negative G forces, so you’ll experience the heart-pounding feeling of your body versus gravity.

3. The Aileron Roll

An aileron roll is a tricky maneuver in which the pilot will take the stunt plane through a full 360-degree rotation along its longitudinal axis. When you do it properly, the stunt plane won’t experience a noticeable change in altitude. Also, your plane will exit at the same heading as its entry. To perform this stunt, the pilot will start at a level height. Then, you’ll begin to feel the plane pitch by about 10 degrees to 30 degrees higher than the horizon into a brief incline. The controls are kept in a neutral position, so the plane doesn’t continue climbing up when it is upright and down when it’s inverted.

4. The Tailslide

You’ll love performing a tailslide. To do this stunt, you’ll begin at a level height. The pilot will take the plane into a straight vertical climb, which is a move that requires the plane’s full power. During the stunt, the plane will continue to climb until it loses momentum. Once it stops climbing, the pilot pauses the plane for as long as possible. Then, the plane will fall back downward for all the adrenaline-pumping action! Once the front of the plane is vertical, you’ll continue at a level height.

5. Stall Turn

The stall turn is amazing to watch and even more incredible to experience. To do a stall turn, you’ll begin with a quarter loop that takes the plane into a vertical position. In vertical, your airspeed will decrease. Once this happens, the pilot will need to take a few steps to bring the nose of the plane down. A pause occurs that makes the aircraft appear to stall, but this won’t actually happen. This is a challenging maneuver, but our professional pilots know exactly how to do it for maximum thrills!

6. Falling Leaf

In a falling leaf stunt, you’ll have the chance to mimic what a leaf looks like when it flutters to the ground. To do this stunt, the pilot will need to turn the throttle off while you’re in the air. Once the throttle is turned off, the plane will start to shift one way or the other depending on weight and wind direction. Your pilot will counter this movement using the rudder to prevent a full spin. When you do it right, the plane will shift the other way just like a fluttering leaf. It’s a fun one to experience, and also an awesome stunt for your friends and family to watch you perform.

Ready for Action?

At Sky Combat Ace, you have the chance of a lifetime to soar, dive, and spin through the air with one of our experienced Las Vegas stunt pilots. Imagine being on a rollercoaster without the constraints of the track. The sky’s the limit—literally! You can also try your hand at piloting the stunt plane yourself and perform aerobatic maneuvers, sky combat, or both, while one of our pilots guides you through every move. Check out our aerobatic flight experiences in Las Vegas, San Diego, and the Lake Tahoe area and book your stunt plane ride today!