Patty Wagstaff

Patty Wagstaff is recognized as a pioneering aviator in American aviation, known for her achievements in competitive aerobatics. Wagstaff is a six-time member of the U.S. Aerobatic Team and the first woman to win the title of U.S. National Aerobatic Champion, a distinction she earned three times. After relocating to Alaska, she worked for the Bristol Bay Native Association in Dillingham, where she began flying lessons and launched her career as a pilot. Wagstaff entered her first aerobatic competition and advanced to the Unlimited category within two years.

Wagstaff joined the U.S. Aerobatic Team, piloting her Pitts Special, and earned gold, silver, and bronze medals in international competitions. She became the first woman to win the U.S. National Aerobatic Championship, repeating the accomplishment twice. Wagstaff was also the first recipient of the Charlie Hillard Trophy, awarded to the highest-scoring U.S. pilot at the World Aerobatic Championships. Her autobiography, co-written with Ann Cooper, "Fire and Air: A Life on the Edge," details her journey from bush flying in Alaska to the heights of competitive aerobatics.

Her aircraft, the Goodrich Extra 260, is displayed in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Wagstaff has been inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, the International Council of Air Shows Foundation Hall of Fame, and the International Air and Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air and Space Museum. She is a six-time recipient of the "First Lady of Aerobatics" Betty Skelton Award, as well as the "Sword of Excellence" Airshow Industry Award and the "Bill Barber Award for Showmanship." Additional honors include the Wings Club of New York's Outstanding Aviator Award and the International Council of Air Shows' Art Scholl Award.

Wagstaff is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, Motion Picture Pilots Association, and United Stuntwomen's Association, and has worked as a stunt pilot and aerial coordinator for film and television. She has trained with the Russian Aerobatic Team and performed in airshows and competitions on five continents, including in Russia, Argentina, Iceland, and Kenya. Her aircraft has also been featured in Microsoft's Flight Simulator, where it was the only plane associated with a specific aviator.

Wagstaff continues to perform in airshows and serves as a flight instructor at the Patty Wagstaff Aerobatic School in St. Augustine, Florida, specializing in pilot training and in-flight loss of control prevention. She has been named an AOPA Ambassador by the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association to promote general aviation. Wagstaff's career in aerobatics, flight instruction, and aviation safety has made her a prominent figure in the aviation industry.