American sports fans are thrill seekers. They're drawn to events that incorporate elements of speed, daring and danger. And few spectator sports deliver the jaw-dropping, heart-pounding, edge-of-your seat action of competition sport aerobatics.

The International Aerobatic Club (IAC) sanctions approximately 60 contests in the U.S. each year. Competitors perform gravity-defying stunts with names like "Hammerheads", "Humpty-Bumps" and "Sharkstooth".

As in Olympic gymnastics, there are required and freestyle maneuvers, each with a corresponding degree of difficulty. Pilots are judged on a scale from 1 to 10 for how precisely they fly straight lines and round circles, and how smoothly they transition from one maneuver into the next. Top-scoring pilots advance to represent the U.S in international competition.

Aerobatics pilots tend to be extremely self-confident (some say "cocky"), and for good reason: They push their planes and their bodies to the limit, frequently pulling in excess of eight G's during competition-- that's more than the force Space Shuttle astronauts experience during liftoff.

For love, not money

Aerobatics pilots aren't in it for the money--there are no cash awards at contests. David Kujawa is a sport aerobatics pilot and Editor of Sport Aerobatics Magazine, the official publication of the IAC. He said, "We fly and compete only for plaques, trophies and the chance to represent our country in international competition...and because we love the sport".

According to Mike Wiskus, a sport aerobatics competitor who makes his living as a corporate pilot, entry-level biplanes like his Pitts Special cost around $30,000, and high-performance monoplanes can cost upwards of $400,000, excluding the cost for fuel, insurance, maintenance and travel.

Corporate support

Like their NASCAR counterparts, Wiskus and other sport aerobatics pilots have turned to corporate sponsors to underwrite their flying and competition costs. In return, sponsors prominently display their product and corporate logos across pilots' planes. Wiskus's orange and white Pitts Special features the logo of his sponsor, B2BXchange, an e-business solutions provider. "B2BXchange not only provides financial support for my aerobatics effects, but also offers e-business tools and resources that benefit the entire sport aviation community", he said. Wiskus is referring to mySportAviationXchange.com. It's one of more than 1,600 industry-specific VerticalXchange™ (VX™) online trading communities that B2BXchange offers as part of its comprehensive e-business solution.
"mySportAvaiationXchange.com" is like an online international contest or air show", said Wiskus. "It's a place where people like me who are passionate about flying can gather, share ideas, get information, buy and sell planes and parts, and more. Best of all, it's free and you never have to leave home".

The B2BXchange platform provides business with a comprehensive source for information, interaction and electronic commerce for buying and selling goods and services over the Internet. Every VX provides users access to industry-specific news, publications, events, administrative applications, discussions groups, expert advice, auction services and links to agencies and associations. A free directory listing gives participating companies greater online visibility and increased selling opportunities through B2BXchange's 1,600+ VerticalXchange platform.

Thanks to the financial and e-business support of corporate partners like B2BXchange, U.S. competition sports aerobatics is flying high.