First Lady of Aerobatics
Program Titles
- Patty flies one of the most thrilling, low-level aerobatic routines in the world
- Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in Olympic-level international aerobatic competition and is the first woman to win the title of US National Aerobatic champion
- Inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame
Patty Wagstaff, the sky represents adventure, freedom and challenge.
A six-time member of the US Aerobatic Team, Patty has won the gold, silver and bronze medals in Olympic-level international aerobatic competition and is the first woman to win the title of US National Aerobatic champion and one of the few people to win it three times.
Patty flies one of the most thrilling, low-level aerobatic routines in the world.
Flying before millions of Airshow spectators each year, her breathtaking performances give spectators a front-row seat view of the precision and complexity of modern, unlimited hard-core aerobatics. Her smooth aggressive style sets the standard for performers the world over.
Though Patty was not raised to think of a career, her parent’s supported her interests and encouraged her above all not to be fearful.
Patty’s first experience with bush flying was not a positive one: the same airplane she chartered crashed on its first flight.
Patty learned to fly herself, hiring friend and later husband, Bob, to travel with her in his Cessna 185 floatplane.
Since then earned her Commercial, Instrument, Seaplane and Commercial Helicopter Ratings.
She is a Flight and Instrument Instructor and is rated and qualified to fly many airplanes, from World War II warbirds to jets.
Patty’s sister, Toni, is also a pilot and a Captain for Continental Airlines..
Though she had never seen aerobatics, a lifelong curiosity led her to attend her first Airshow in Abbotsford, British Columbia, where she saw aerobatic pilots perform and promised herself “I can do that!”
After gaining her pilot’s license, she earned a spot on the US Aerobatic Team.
Patty’s skill is based on years of training and experience.
She is a six-time recipient of the “First Lady of Aerobatics” Betty Skelton Award.
Patty was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame and was the recipient of the National Air and Space Museum’s Award for Current Achievement.
Having received many awards for her flying, she is particularly proud of receiving the Airshow industry’s most prestigous award, the “Sword of Excellence”, and the “Bill Barber Award for Showmanship”
She was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Air Force Association, was inducted into the EAA/IAC Hall of Fame and received the NAA/99’s Katherine Wright Award
Her airplane, the Goodrich Extra 260, went on display in the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in Washington DC.
You can see Patty’s airplane and exhibit in the Pioneers of Flight Gallery right next to Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed Vega.
Patty has trained with the Russian Aerobatic Team and has flown Airshows and competitions in such exotic places as South America, Russia, Europe, Mexico and Iceland.
She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, Motion Picture Pilots Association, United Stuntwomen’s Association, working as a stunt pilot and aerial coordinator for the film and television industry.
She is currently a “Demo” pilot for Raytheon Aircraft, flying their military trainer, the T-6A/B Texan II in international Airshows such as Paris and Farnborough, and for the past five years has given bush and recurrency training to the pilots of the Kenya Wildlife Service in Kenya.
Patty is proud to be sponsored by Cirrus Design. Cirrus manufactures the composite SR-22, the world’s best selling airplane.
Patty is also proud to be sponsored by Champion Aerospace Inc manufacturer of high-performance aviation quality spark plugs, harnesses and oil filters; Sarasota Avionics International meets Patty’s avionics needs; Textron Lycoming who makes her engine; Barrett Performance Aircraft who modifies it; and MT Propeller who provides the propeller for it.
She also has had long time support from Shell Oil, Bose Headsets, Michelin Aircraft Tires, National Parachutes, Concorde Battery and Lord Corporation. Additionally, she is supported by Microsoft and you can fly her Cirrus Extra 300S which is featured on the famed Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Achievements
Inductee, Air Show Hall of Fame
Aviation Week & Space Technology Laureate,
Philip J. Klass Award for Lifetime Achievement
Recipient, Air Force Association Lifetime Achievement Award
Inductee, International Aerobatic Club Hall of Fame
Katherine Wright Award
Katherine and Marjorie Stinson Award
Bill Barber Award for Showmanship
Recipient, NAA Paul Tissiander Diploma
Inductee, Women in Aviation International Hall of Fame
Inductee, Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame
Recipient, Charlie Hillard Trophy
GAN & Flyers Readers Choice Award, Favorite Female Performer
Top Scoring US Pilot at World Aerobatic Championships
Member, U.S. Aerobatic Team
Recipient, ICAS Sword of Excellence Award
Winner Betty Skelton “First Lady of Aerobatics” Trophy
National Air and Space Museum Award for Current Achievement
NAA Certificate of Honor
International Aerobatic Club Champion
US National Aerobatic Championships
Top US Medal Winner, World Aerobatic Championships
Voted Western Flyer Reader’s Choice Favorite Airshow Performer
Rolly Cole Memorial Award for Contributions to Sport Aerobatics
Book Patty Wagstaff for your Event!