Showing off
Thrilling crowds at airshows
By Collin Callahan
Most pilots try to “keep the blue side up,” but not airshow pilot RJ Gritter.
RJ GRITTER
Owner of RJ Gritter Airshows
Career: Airshow pilot
Qualifications: Aerobatic training, commercial pilot certificate, and Statement of Aerobatic Competency card.
Work/life balance: “Airshows are the ‘life’ part. This is what I do for fun.”
Favorite part of the job: Performing for the crowd and interacting with airshow fans.
Least favorite part of the job: “Fixing broken airplanes all the time.”
Pay: It runs the gamut. Performers charge appearance fees ranging from $0 to $50,000.
Ever since his first aerobatic ride in high school, he’s been hooked on looping, rolling, and spinning. Gritter spends as many as 30 weekends a year flying a Bellanca 8KCAB Decathlon at airshows. He is one of approximately 250 pilots who are authorized to fly aerobatics at shows in the United States.
“There are few thrills like flying aerobatics in general,” he said. “And there’s just something special about combining that with performing. It’s just the most amazing feeling to own the airport for 10 minutes.”
Low-level aerobatic flying at airshows is a discipline that requires extensive practice and training as well as authorization from the FAA. Performers are required to hold a commercial pilot certificate and an authorization known as a Statement of Aerobatic Competency. In addition to the time he spends flying at airshows, Gritter logs about 100 hours each year practicing aerobatics.
Gritter also performs a comedy routine in a Piper Cub and flies a Stearman biplane for a wing walker. Just about any aircraft can be used in an airshow. Civilian pilots display World War II fighters, purpose-built aerobatic airplanes, acro-capable Bonanzas, and jets like the L–39 Albatros.
“The airshow world needs and wants variety,” Gritter said. “If you have some novel idea for an act with a unique airplane—or if it’s a unique airplane just doing passes and just showing the crowd your airplane—there’s room for that.”
Although a handful of performers with major sponsors are able fly airshows as a full-time career, for most pilots, airshows are a second job that can generate a modest income, pay for aircraft costs, and provide an enjoyable vocation.
Gritter, who is an aerospace engineer, says the most rewarding part of the job is meeting fans and encouraging people to get involved in aviation.
“Most of the crowd enjoys the show, but at every show there are at least one or two who you can just see the spark in their eyes that they just saw something at the show that kind of inspired them to go get into aviation,” he said. “And that’s pretty special.”
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