Andrey Synitsin, former chief test pilot of the Yakovlev Design Bureau, is seen at
the controls of the Yakovlev Yak-54 aerobatic training aircraft in the vicinty of
Tushino, Moscow's principal sports airfield.
Flown by famous pilot and aviation icon R.A "Bob" Hoover the aircraft display
routine is definitely stunning. He loops, rolls the Aero Commander and
his energy management display routine finally brings back the aircraft
engineless for landing and taxying to a stop in the parking position.
German aerobatic champion Walter Extra started aircraft development with purpose
made examples for his hobby. From this a series of state of the art aerobatic aircraft
have progressed and are sought after by pilots all around the world. With the Extra 400,
the company diversified into the touring and business aircraft market by the mid
nineties and the type is now also available as a turbine powered version.
Being prevented from building powered airplanes after WW II until mid 1955,
German engineers and enthusiasts had to resort to the silent form of flight but
their skill showed. Companies like Schleicher, Grob, Glaser-Dirks are able to sell
their products all around the world.
Another field of sports aviation is skydiving, paragliding and ultralights.
An American two seater trike is seen crossing the distant moon surface.