Denison Flight School Trains Pilots for Emergencies with Aerial Stunts

Thrust Flight's new aerobatics program pushes pilots and planes to the limit to prepare for aviation accidents.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Thrust Flight, an aviation school in Denison, Texas, has added an aerobatics training program to its curriculum. The program, led by renowned aerobatics pilot and instructor Curtis Richmond, involves putting pilots through extreme maneuvers like spins, flips, and stalls to prepare them for potential emergency situations. The school's CEO, Patrick Arnzen, says the program will help them train the best possible pilots to meet the growing demand in the airline industry.

Why it matters

Aerobatics training is seen as a way to better equip pilots to handle loss of control situations, which are a common cause of general aviation accidents. By exposing pilots to these extreme maneuvers in a controlled environment, the school aims to improve their ability to react and recover in emergency scenarios, potentially saving lives.

The details

Thrust Flight's aerobatics program uses a carbon fiber GB-1 Gamebird aircraft, which offers more power and better handling than standard training planes. Chief Flight Instructor Hunter Little says the added awareness and feel of the aircraft through different situations will help train safer pilots. The school will also compete in aerobatics competitions, setting them apart from most other flight schools.

  • Thrust Flight added the aerobatics training program to its curriculum about a decade ago.
  • The school plans to compete in aerobatics competitions in the near future.

The players

Curtis Richmond

A renowned aerobatics pilot and instructor who leads the aerobatics training program at Thrust Flight.

Patrick Arnzen

The CEO and founder of Thrust Flight, who saw a growing need in the airline industry and ramped up the flight school's training programs.

Hunter Little

The Chief Flight Instructor at Thrust Flight, who oversees the school's aerobatics training program.

Mathews Woerde

A flight student at Thrust Flight who is pursuing aviation as a second career.

Thrust Flight

An aviation school in Denison, Texas that trains hundreds of new pilots every year and has added an aerobatics training program to its curriculum.

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What they’re saying

“Flying aerobatics is very much precision, it's flying the airplane at the very edge of its capabilities.”

— Curtis Richmond, Aerobatics Pilot and Instructor (kxii.com)

“If they had more practice in these situations, then they would be more prepared for how to react, and you never know how many lives you'll save.”

— Curtis Richmond, Aerobatics Pilot and Instructor (kxii.com)

“Nothing makes you a better pilot than going out and flying aerobatics, flying tail wheel airplanes, putting yourself upside down in all sorts of crazy situations, and being able to recover from that situation.”

— Patrick Arnzen, CEO and Founder, Thrust Flight (kxii.com)

“This is a second career for me, I was in corporate for 9 years. It's completely doable, like if you're thinking about it, I'm telling you now you can do it.”

— Mathews Woerde, Flight Student, Thrust Flight (kxii.com)

“Up there, it's a total feeling of freedom.”

— Curtis Richmond, Aerobatics Pilot and Instructor (kxii.com)

What’s next

Thrust Flight plans to compete in aerobatics competitions in the near future, showcasing the skills of their pilots and the capabilities of their program.

The takeaway

Thrust Flight's new aerobatics training program represents an innovative approach to pilot education, equipping students with the skills and experience to handle emergency situations and potentially save lives. As the airline industry faces a growing demand for pilots, this program could serve as a model for other flight schools looking to produce the safest and most capable pilots.