Pilot Luke Penner's journey into the world of high performance aerobatics began with a transformative experience in childhood. After becoming a private pilot, his father, who was also his flight instructor, took him for a celebratory flight in his Pitts S-2B. His father’s effortless control and precision aerial maneuvers in the aircraft ignited Luke’s passion for aerobatics. "I knew I wanted what he had.”
Luke’s early training involved tailwheel aircraft, including the Citabria and a basic aerobatic course. However, it took nearly a decade before he moved into competition aerobatics, (a delay he attributes to the Pitts’ lack of cross-country capability but he admits the real reason was a fear of failure). Eventually, in 2015, he trained with former Red Bull Air Race pilot Pete McLeod. His first official competition came the next year, when he not only competed but won his category at the US Nationals in Denison, Texas, and solidified his obsession with the sport.
Though Luke’s father was his biggest mentor, he has also drawn inspiration from aerobatic legends like Patty Wagstaff, Mike Goulian, and Rob Holland. Over the years, he has been able to build strong connections throughout the aerobatic community, including his training under McLeod and his coach, U.S. National Champion, Aaron McCartan.
"Pete McLeod’s aggressive, precise style was something I adopted early on, and it has served me well," Luke explains. He also recently had the opportunity to fly with Wagstaff’s Extra 330SC while renewing his airshow pilot license as she is an Aerobatic Competency Evaluator (ACE). He remarks that this was an experience that felt truly full circle given his childhood admiration of her performances at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
Now entering his ninth competition season and his second in the Unlimited, Luke is competing at a level that pushes both his aircraft and his skills to their limits. Flying the Extra 330SC, a high performance monoplane capable of 420 degree per second rotations under extreme G-forces, requires both relentless flight training and physical conditioning.
According to Luke, Unlimited aerobatics is "extremely physical and mentally demanding." He trains daily during the warmer months in Canada to build his G-tolerance, so that he can withstand multiple high intensity flights per day without risking injury. "At the beginning of the season, I have to gradually ease myself back into flying these demanding figures, practically restricting how much negative G exposure I give myself," he explains.
It goes without saying that competitive aerobatics is just as much a mental sport as a physical one. In addition to his coach, Luke works with a sports psychologist on breathing exercises and visualization techniques that allow him to stay focused. "Pretty much any time that I’ve had a bad moment in a competition flight, I could chalk it up to mental readiness," he says. It is crucial to good performance for pilots to manage nerves and maintain sharp focus during the waiting period before their flight. "I fly my best when I feel relaxed, so it’s all about getting into that relaxed but hyper-focused mindset."
Though focus is a significant part of aerobatic flying, there’s no replacement for seat time. Luke is often extremely busy as a Chief Flight Instructor and pilot examiner at Harv’s Air in Manitoba, but he balances his daily responsibilities with rigorous flight training. "Some days, I work a 10 hour day, then climb into the 330SC to train. But I love it, and it doesn’t feel like work."
Unlimited category flying means constantly learning and refining complex maneuvers. A particularly challenging figure cited by Luke is Rob Holland’s Mad Cow: a demanding figure that was submitted at the 2024 U.S. Nationals. Luke describes the maneuver involving starting the figure at near Vne and performing a 1 1/4 roll then opposite direction, 1 3/4 roll then half outside loop up (-7G push), and at the top of the looping portion immediately going into a 1 1/2 negative snap roll, then from inverted a full inside snap roll, finishing level inverted. "I had only learned it a week before the competition," he admits. "I got through it, but it wasn’t as clean as I’d like, so that’s on my training list for next season." Tackling the Mad Cow is definitely a goal for Luke, but his ultimate goal is earning a spot on the Canadian Unlimited Aerobatic Team for the 2026 World Championships.
When he’s not flight instructing or preparing for a competition, Luke also finds time to perform airshows. Though he enjoys airshows as they allow him to entertain and engage crowds, competition flying remains his main focus. However, airshows have given him some of his most unforgettable experiences, such as, performing at his home province’s Manitoba Airshow in front of over 20,000 people and flying in Reykjavík, Iceland, thanks to the relationship he taken time to build with the aerobatic community there.
If you happen to be a pilot or enthusiast looking to follow in his footsteps, Luke emphasizes the importance of mastering the fundamentals first. "I see too many pilots skipping steps in their early training, which hurts them later when they want to move up to more advanced aircraft or categories. Master the basics first, everything else will follow."
With a busy season of training, competitions, and airshows ahead, Luke remains passionate about pushing the limits of what’s possible in flight. Whether representing Canada on the world stage or inspiring the next generation of pilots through flight training and airshow performances, he is committed to continually sharing his passion for aerobatics. "There’s no substitute for competency, and aerobatic training is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding ways to become a safer pilot.” It’s what drives him to keep learning and make sure he also passes those lessons on to others.
Visit Harv's Air Inverted for more information or follow Luke on Instagram @harvsairinverted. Be sure to check out this great COPA article to learn more about Luke's journey in aerobatics.
