PITTS SPECIAL TRAINING
Pitts Special Conversion Training
Are you ready for more horsepower, roll rate and manoeuvrability? Your next aerobatic challenge awaits you with the Pitts Special S-2A!
At the heart of the Academy’s philosophy is the introduction of aerobatic pilots to aircraft which will provide them the opportunity to become masters of the art of precision flying. Nearly every champion aerobatic pilot in the Western world has experienced the aerobatic magic of the Pitts Special! The Academy is proud to offer Pitts Special conversion training to those aerobatic pilots who show dedication and ability in the lower categories of competition in our magnificent Pitts S-2A. Having “learned your trade” in the Academy’s Robin 2160i or similar aerobatic trainer, your hunger for more performance will be well satisfied after completing our comprehensive conversion course.
The Pitts Special S-2A is the first of the 2-seat production variants of the well-known aerobatic biplanes first designed by Curtis Pitts in 1943. The S-2A is nimble enough to be a contender in Sportsman and Intermediate aerobatic competition categories, and economical enough with it’s 200 hp engine that it won’t break the budget! It is the perfect advanced trainer for experienced aerobatic pilots who wish to move onto Unlimited class aircraft over time.
AAA’s Pitts Special conversion course will give you the skills necessary to safely and proficiently operate high performance aerobatic aircraft. You will learn how to perform upright, inverted and cross-over spins, perform advanced aerobatics including sustained negative “G” manoeuvres, recover from mishandled manoeuvres and emergency scenarios and most importantly of all, to take-off and land safely!
As with all AAA flight training courses, successful conversion is subject to competency-based assessment and elements of the course may need to be repeated until the required competency is attained.
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AAA RPL Course
More DetailsFor trainee pilots serious about safety and standards.Training safe, proficient pilots is a serious business, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun along the way! Not only will you loop and roll on your first lesson, during the course you will learn to take-off and land, to perform basic aerobatics, to spin and recover and to effectively recognise and respond to emergency situations. Learning these skills takes time, dedication and good instruction. Getting this process right the first time is essential when you learn to fly. Flying, like the sea, is unforgiving of the inattentive or foolish!
The Australian Aerobatic Academy’s Recreational Pilot Licence (RPL) syllabus is NOT a minimum time, minimum cost or minimum standard learn-to-fly course. It is a comprehensive course which goes beyond the minimum CASA requirements to provide you with superior aircraft handling skills. These skills will stay with you whether you choose to be an airline pilot, fly recreationally for fun, or enjoy taking your family and friends away for a weekend trip as a private pilot.
To see just how much more you get for your money with a AAA RPL course, please look at this document: AAA RPL Syllabus Comparison.
A pilot more confident and capable in the airborne environment has a greater capacity for good aeronautical decision-making, which means a safer, more proficient aviator. If your flight training is limited to the narrow envelope of the “air transport” environment, unnecessary limitations may be formed as well as an underlying fear of situations that cannot be adequately or safely explored in “standard” training aircraft incapable of basic aerobatic flight. When basic aerobatics, spinning, and upset prevention & recovery training is combined as an integral part of a learn-to-fly course, the result is a pilot fully aware of an aircraft’s capability in flight. This flight training method has been used for decades by defence forces worldwide – why should civilian pilots not also benefit from this style of training? IT WORKS!
Don’t just take our word for it… Former Sydney Aerobatic School founder & CFI Noel Kruse, author of the “Fly Better” series of books, endorses the Academy’s training methods and standards in this document. Veteran US aerobatic pilot, airshow performer and flight instructor Patty Wagstaff has written a recent article on the benefits of the Academy’s style of training: Upset Recovery Vs. Aerobatics – Plane And Pilot Magazine.
The Australian Aerobatic Academy prides itself on the standard of its instruction, as well as its personalised service and tuition. Academy instructors are experienced career instructors whose role is more of a “personal trainer” and “mentor” rather than a newly-qualified instructor trained to a minimum standard with limited operational experience. As we only employ a small number of dedicated professionals, we can guarantee the personalised service and consistency of training that larger organisations may not be able to provide.
All RPL flying lessons are conducted in the Robin 2160 – a high performance dedicated training aircraft capable of aerobatic flight. Your choice of initial training aircraft is very important. Many aircraft used for training today do not have the capability to allow practice in using the full aerodynamic envelope, leaving a gap in knowledge and experience for new pilots. It is for this reason AAA use only fully aerobatic aircraft for our initial training courses. The Robin has a cruise speed of 120 kts (215 km/h), and climb rate of 1000 ft/min. Compare this to the 40 year-old Cessna 152 or the newer Light Sport Aircraft used by other flight training schools – which have a cruise speed of around 90 kts (170 km/h) and a climb rate of 650 ft/min. This means more time is spent in the training area concentrating on learning the required skills, rather than the transit to and from the airport. Higher performance means more practice in take-offs and landings per session, which means more practice for every dollar spent!
All Sydney flying school lessons include FREE in-flight video recording facilities. Important aspects of the flight can be immediately replayed on the ground as part of the debriefing, so you don’t miss out on the vital feedback you need to improve your skills!
When making a decision on which school you choose to learn to fly with, consider this:
Learning to fly is a large commitment in time, finances and personal effort, and one must be ultimately satisfied with the ability of the selected flight training organisation to provide the level of service & quality of the qualification they purport to provide…
…What is your life, and the lives of your future passengers worth to you?
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Aircraft Spin Endorsement | Australian Aerobatic Academy
More DetailsGiving new instructors the skills to teach with confidence.The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Grade Three Flight Instructor Rating syllabus requires trainee instructors to be endorsed to conduct fully developed spins to ensure that flight instructor trainees are proficient at spin recovery techniques before teaching incipient spinning (CASR Table 61.1235 Item 3A).
Unfortunately for most flight training organisations, finding a training aircraft with fully-developed spin recovery capability, as well as a qualified instructor experienced in such instruction, can be costly, time-consuming and not have the desired outcome! This can lead to a serious gap in confidence and awareness of stall / spin recovery for new instructors.
The Academy’s Robin 2160i is the ideal spin training aircraft. With completely predictable spin characteristics, it is similar in performance to most trainee instructor’s initial training aircraft, such as the Piper PA28 series. This is a far cry from under-powered Cessna 152 that takes an eternity to climb to height (wasting time and money), and “fire-breathing monsters” like the Pitts Special, which tend to be more intimidating than helpful in providing positive learning outcomes with inexperienced pilots.
Even if you’re a Recreational, Private or Commercial pilot, this brief course is a great asset! Previously optional under the CASA Commercial Pilot Licence syllabus, the new Part 61 Manual of Standards have now removed this requirement from CPL training completely! Under the expert guidance of experienced instructors, you will be exposed you to stall / spin recognition and emergency recovery techniques and debunk the myths and fears of the “dreaded tailspin!”
DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY! Refer your instructor trainees to the aerobatic and spin recovery experts at the Australian Aerobatic Academy! We are the preferred supplier of flight instructor spin training to a number of organisations who conduct flight instructor rating training, and can tailor a course to suit your organisation’s requirements.
Contact us for more information.
