Chris Sperou - Aerobatics display

Chris Sperou is a 13 time National Aerobatic Champion. A 'True Blue' South Australian, he was born in Thevenard on the West Coast and started his working life as a hand line fisherman.

He became interested in aeroplanes at an early stage in life and paid the price whenever he 'wagged' school in between classes to cycle out to the Ceduna aerodrome to catch a glimpse of military aircraft staging through Ceduna which was a fuel stop.

At the true adult age of 21 Chris immediately joined the Royal Aero Club of South Australia. The trainer was the DH 1 DeHavilland Chipmunk, which was used in the past to train Military Pilots. He went solo in only a few hours and quickly engaged in 'unusual attitudes' -AEROBATICS!

Chris won his first National title before anyone realised that he was never endorsed to fly aerobatics. That changed when later in life a very good friend, who was a Chief Flying Instructor and ex-airforce pilot, asked Chris to show him a few of the more unusual manoeuvres that he had developed over the years after which he stamped Chris' Pilot Log Book as aerobatic rated.

Chris represented the South Australian Aero Club in a three man formation team, winning and assisting to win the National title nine (9) times, the National Aerobatic & Unlimited title 13 times as well as representing Australia in the World Aerobatic titles. They did not possess competitive aircraft to match those used by other more liberal countries but his team did manage to win a bronze medal in the USA in 1980.

Over the years Chris has perfected an unlimited routine of low level aerobatics down to 50 feet in his Super Pitts Special Bi-Plane. His aircraft is equipped with a smoke generator and he flies all his routines trailing smoke.

He is the only pilot in Australia approved to carry out the "Inverted Ribbon Cut" which involves rolling upside down at 30 ft above the ground and descending to 25 ft. above the ground inverted to cut a ribbon stretched between two poles, with his propeller.