Abarth Aerobatics with International air display pilot, Mark Jefferies

Mark Jefferies and the Abarth Extra aircraft will be performing air displays throughout the UK – here you will find a selection of Abarth related events where you can watch this superb pilot put on stunning aerobatic sequences that defy gravity… aircraft performance that defies belief!

The Abarth Aerobatics air displays will include one or more of the following:

A vertical point roll transitioning into a knife edge spin upwards which he will develop into an inverted multi turned flat spin. During this figure Mark has an excellent view of us all as he spins, but upside down, towards the ground. The spin is kept flat through a combination of gyroscopic forces from the propeller – maximised as Mark keeps full throttle through the figure – and full control deflections.

Mark will pull up into a unique figure, the Twister, a figure created by Mark that is a skilful combination of gyroscopic twists on a vertical up-line, but recovered pointing skywards with such accuracy that Mark then flies the aeroplane backwards through his own smoke – this requires fantastic precision, and a strong head.

Through this sequence Mark will be experiencing very high g-loadings of 8 positive g (4 g can induce black out in normal people as the blood is forced from the head) and an eye-watering -6g where all the blood is forced into the head. Under these conditions organs can move inches inside the body with dramatic changes in blood pressure and heart rate. Hence a regular training programme is essential to unlimited aerobatic performances and fitness levels equal to a boxer or triathlon athlete.

Other figures flown will include:

Tail slide, where the aircraft flies backwards

As the aeroplane flies backwards Mark is literally balancing it on its tail, and to recover he will use reverse pitch controls due to the airflow travelling backwards over the aircrafts control surfaces

Ruade, where the aeroplane tumbles off a half loop – This figure which seems to defy the laws of aerodynamics is achieved through a combination of gyroscopic forces generated by the 320HP engine and full deflection of all control inputs

Eventail, where the aircraft pirouettes in the sky, like a Catherine wheel

This manoeuvre is a real feet of coordination and pilot experience overcoming disorientating visual cues, it requires Mark to develop a flat inverted spin on a horizontal plane

Flick rolls, where the aircraft rolls fast and violently

Loops, with negative and positive G

Lomcevaks, (pronounced LOM – SHE- VAK) where the aircraft rotates around the engine in a cartwheel

Stall Turns, the aircraft speed drops to a stall as it turns