11. Landing Inverted

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Inverted landings are possible for skilled aerobatic pilots, though generally dangerous without proper equipment.
  • Successfully landing a plane upside down typically requires the aircraft to be specially outfitted with landing gear on both the top and bottom.
  • Aerobatic performer and actor Craig Hosking is known for performing inverted landings multiple times in his modified Pitts biplane.
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Can a plane land inverted? Of course, it can. Aerobatic airplanes are regularly flown upside down. But landing? Piece of cake for a skilled aerobatic ace, though. But unless it’s got landing gear on top, it’ll probably be their last landing. Aerobatic performer and Hollywood actor Craig Hosking has done it, many times! For a while, Hosking, who has been busy making movies of late (most recently on 2017’s Dunkirk), made inverted landings in his Pitts biplane specially outfitted with landing gear on both top and bottom. Thanks all the same, but we’ll avoid that plane if it shows up on the line at our flying club! Some temptations one does not need! 

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