Rob Holland (pilot)

Rob Holland (born (1974-05-30)May 30, 1974) is an American pilot and record breaking aerobatic champion from Nashua, New Hampshire.

Rob Holland
Born (1974-05-30) May 30, 1974
New England, U.S.
Nationality United States
EducationBachelors of Science in Aviation Flight Operations/Aviation Management
Known forRecord Breaking Competition Aerobatic Pilot, Airshow Pilot
WebsiteRob Holland Ultimate Airshows

Biography

Holland was always fascinated with aviation and after earning his pilot's license while still a teenager, he began flying aerobatics almost immediately. He built flight time and experience as a corporate pilot, commuter pilot, banner tower, flight instructor, and ferry pilot. He also operated his own aerobatic flight school. Holland has been an active airshow pilot since 2002. He has distinguished himself by blazing a trail of innovation, developing maneuvers never before seen at an airshows. Rob flies an MXS-RH built by MX Aircraft, a manufacturer of sport, aerobatic and race aircraft.[1]

Holland is known as one of the most decorated aerobatic pilots in U.S. history, having won multiple titles such as five-time consecutive World 4-minute Freestyle Aerobatic Champion, Nine-time consecutive U.S. National Aerobatic Champion, Ten-time U.S. 4-minute Freestyle Aerobatic Champion, the 2015 World Air Games Freestyle Gold Medal, the 2012 Art Scholl Award for Showmanship Recipient, the 2008 World Advanced Aerobatic Champion and 28 Medals in International Competition with 12 of those being Gold. Holland is the only pilot in history to win: five consecutive World 4-minute Freestyle titles, Nine consecutive U.S. National titles, and ten total U.S. 4-minute Freestyle titles.[2]

Career Highlights
  • 2019 Eric Müller Trophy Recipient [3]
  • 5 Time World Freestyle Aerobatic Champion in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019 [4]
  • 9 Time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 [5]
  • 10 Time U.S. National Freestyle Aerobatic Champion in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 [6]
  • 2019 named Honorary Blue Angel
  • 2018 Society of Honorary Snowbirds Inductee[7]
  • 3 Time recipient of the Charlie Hillard Trophy 2013, 2017, and 2019[8]
  • 2016 Sky Grand Prix Aerobatic Freestyle Gold Medalist [9]
  • 2015 World Air Games Aerobatic Freestyle Gold Medalist [10]
  • 2012 Recipient of the Art Scholl Award for Showmanship [11]
  • 2008 World Advanced Aerobatic Champion [12]
  • 2006 World Advanced Aerobatic Championships Silver Medalist [13]
  • U.S. Aerobatic Team Captain 2013, 2017 and 2019
  • U.S. Unlimited Aerobatic Team Member 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019
  • U.S. Advanced Aerobatic Team Member 2004, 2006 and 2008

Aircraft

Rob Holland has flown over 180 different type of aircraft.[14]  He has flown a few different types in airshows and aerobatic competition.

Pitts S-2C

Rob Holland started flying airshows in 2002 in a Pitts S-2C.[15]   He used the aircraft for aerobatic instruction at his flight school, Aerial Advantage Aviation, in Nashua, New Hampshire. He flew aerobatic competitions in the advanced category winning multiple regional aerobatic competitions and also qualified for his first U.S. Aerobatic Team in 2003 in a Pitts S-2C.  He flew the plane in competition and airshows until 2005.

Ultimate 20-300S

Rob flew the Ultimate 20-300S from 2005 until 2007 in airshows and aerobatic competition.  The Ultimate 20-300S is a 2-seat, experimental aerobatic biplane with a pumped up AEIO-540 engine.[16]  He flew a borrowed single seat version of the Ultimate (10-300S) for the World Advanced Aerobatic Championships (AWAC) in 2004 (Sweden) and 2006 (Poland).  Rob had a Silver medal finish with this plane at the 2006 AWAC.[17]

MX2

Rob Holland acquired a MX2 number 002 in the spring of 2007.  He flew the MX2 in aerobatic competition and airshows from 2007 to 2011.  He flew his MX2 to a Gold medal finish at the 2008 World Advanced Aerobatic Championships in Pendleton Oregon.[18] Rob won his first U.S. National Aerobatic Freestyle title in 2008 flying the MX2 at the U.S. National Aerobatic Championships.  Rob also qualified for the 2011 U.S. Aerobatic Team flying the MX2 at the 2010 U.S. National Aerobatic Championships.  

MXS-RH

Holland's current aerobatic plane of choice is the all carbon fiber MXS-RH. He started flying the MXS-RH in 2011.  Based on the popular MXS, the MXS-RH is a one-of-a-kind, all carbon-fiber, American made aerobatic airplane. The single seat, competition and airshow - ready aircraft is designed and built by MX Aircraft and incorporates design modifications suggested by Rob himself. Powering MXS-RH is a Lycoming AEIO-540 engine producing 380 horsepower. Weighing in at a minimal 1200 pounds, MXS-RH boasts astonishing performance, is capable of pulling 16 positive and negative Gs, and rolls at nearly 500 degrees per second. The MXS-RH's performance is “game-changing” and allows Rob Holland to perform the innovated maneuvers unequaled on the airshow circuit . Holland has won multiple World Aerobatic Freestyle Championships in the MXS and eight of his nine U.S. Nationals Aerobatic Champion titles.  He has also won eight of his ten U.S. Nationals Aerobatic Freestyle Champion titles in this plane.

See also

References
  1. https://www.ultimateairshows.com/the-airplane
  2. Holland, Rob. "Bio". Rob Holland Ultimate Airshows. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  3. "WAC 2019 - France". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
  4. "Contest Results". civa-results.com. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
  5. "US Nationals Category Winners | International Aerobatic Club". www.iac.org. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
  6. "Bob Schnuerle Trophy | International Aerobatic Club". www.iac.org. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
  7. "Honorary Snowbirds".
  8. "Charlie Hillard Trophy | International Aerobatic Club". www.iac.org. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
  9. "Contest Results". www.aerobatics.co.za. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
  10. "Contest Results". civa-results.com. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
  11. "International Council of Air Shows". www.airshows.aero. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
  12. "Contest Results". civa-results.com. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
  13. "7th Advanced World Aerobatic Championships 2006" (PDF).
  14. "Rob Holland Ultimate Airshows".
  15. "YouTube".
  16. "Ultimatebiplane.com".
  17. "AWAC 2006 Results" (PDF).
  18. "AWAC 2008 Results".
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