© 2008 L.W.M. Ltd
Until recently the majority of flying schools used the trusty but unexciting Cessna 150/152 Aerobat for teaching aerobatics for the AOPA certificate. Whilst the Cessna was the only option at most airfields, the fact that it was familiar to most of the candidates made the transition to aerobatics appear a little easier, however, the low payload along with less than sparkling performance can make progress a little slow.
The Super Decathlon has much better performance, classic handling and its fully inverted fuel oil system offers a truly aerobatic training capability. From an instructors point of view it is an excellent training aircraft as the strength, reliability and not least the knowledge that the engine will continue running when inverted, means that the student can be taught all of the recoveries from manoeuvres gone wrong with demonstrations and practice thus making them far safer than students taught in aircraft without full inverted capability.
The Super Decathlon offers good value for money as an aerobatic trainer as it takes less than 5 minutes from the start of take off roll to reach a safe training altitude, complete aerobatic checks and start the aerobatic lesson, coupled with the ability to maintain and even gain height during aerobatics no time is wasted clambering up to height. So, in a 40 minutes airborne you can potentially fly 30 minutes of aerobatics!
The student will find the Super Decathlon responsive to control inputs without being twitchy and the fact you are seated on the centre line of the aircraft is a great benefit over side by side seating.
People with no previous flying experience have after 20 minutes of flight instruction been able to fly a loop or aileron roll in the Super Decathlon.
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