Links to Reading

For all pilots:

For tailwheel pilots:

For aerobatic pilots:

FAA AC 91-48 Acrobatics – Precision Flying
Technical Digest Aerobatics: Sport, Science and Survival
APS Pilot Training Manual – for information
Parachute survival

For competition pilots:

Aresti explained by the IAC

For display pilots:

ICAS Documents and Civil Air Displays

For instructors:

NZ CAA Flight Instructor Guide

Pitts Stuff

David J Pilkington FRAeS

started flying in 1966 and commenced aerobatics a few years later. He was twice Australian Advanced Aerobatic Champion. He specialises in aerobatic instruction and is a Flight Examiner for spin and aerobatic instructors.

Over the years he has owned a variety of aerobatic aircraft – Airtourer, Decathlon, Laser, Pitts S-2A and most recently a Super Decathlon and Pitts S-2C.

David has been a flight instructor since 1995 and prior to that was approved to teach advanced aerobatics and test for low level aerobatic approvals.

In 2011, David was awarded the Paul Tissandier Diploma by the FAI for his services to sport aerobatics over many years. David has a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering from RMIT and a Master of Science from Cranfield University in the UK. His early career was in aircraft aerodynamic design, flight & wind tunnel testing, flight performance, handling qualities and flight loads including work with the NASA Spin Research Center.

He was Vice President, Engineering and Test Pilot at Aviat Aircraft, Inc (USA) in the mid-nineties then Chief Engineer – Air Vehicles at ASTA Components (Boeing Australia) prior to joining GKN Aerospace Engineering Services in 2001.