Aerobatic pilot, pioneer, innovator, coach

In 1991, Wagstaff became the first woman to win a U.S. National Aerobatics Championship — the first of three consecutive NACs. Wagstaff first flew at 10 when her pilot dad let her circle Mt. Fuji in a DC-6. She saw her first aerobatic performance in 1983 and two years later was named to the U.S. Aerobatics Team. Rising use of composites in aircraft enabled her to create new maneuvers, including her signature vertical snap rolls. She was selected for the U.S. team at the World Aerobatic Championships six times, in 1996 being the highest-scoring American. Named Betty Skelton First Lady of Aerobatics six times in seven years (1988-94), she also did stunt work for films. Inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2004, her Extra 260 was installed at the National Air & Space Museum next to Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed Vega. She continues to fly airshows and run a flight school that focuses on airmanship and aerobatics. Asked about her gender, she replied, “Do you think the airplane knows or cares?"