Picture Credits: Rob Holland Aerosports, Ultimate air shows
Virginia, USA: Rob Holland, a world-renowned aerobatic pilot, lost his life on Thursday when his custom-built aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia. He was scheduled to perform this weekend in the Air Power Over Hampton Roads airshow, an event that draws thousands of spectators and features demonstrations from both civilian performers and military jets, including the F-22 Raptor.
The crash occurred around 11:50 a.m. involving Holland’s MXS aerobatic aircraft, an experimental model designed and built by MX Aircraft Company to his personal specifications. Only Holland was on board at the time of the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the Department of Defense (DoD) are jointly investigating the cause. An NTSB investigator was expected to arrive at Langley the following day to document the scene, examine the wreckage, and later transfer the aircraft to a secure facility for further evaluation.
Picture Credits: Rob Holland Aerosports
A Pioneer in Modern Aerobatics
Over a career spanning more than 20 years, Rob Holland became one of the most accomplished and admired figures in the aerobatic world. He was a 13-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion, a six-time World Freestyle Champion, and the winner of the 2015 World Air Games Freestyle Gold Medal. His website highlights that he accumulated over 15,000 flight hours across more than 180 different types of aircraft.
Holland’s aircraft, the MXS-RH, was a unique, carbon-fiber design weighing around 1,200 pounds and driven by a 380-horsepower engine. The plane could withstand up to 16 positive and negative Gs and perform rolls at nearly 500 degrees per second. Designed specifically for his high-performance routines, the plane was equipped with a custom harness, helmet, and emergency parachute.
His aerial routines pushed the boundaries of flight with daring moves such as Frisbees, double hammerheads and mid-air stalls, all executed with extraordinary precision. White smoke trails and intricate sequences were hallmarks of his airshow performances, which often left audiences in awe.
Picture Credits: Rob Holland Aerosports
A Legacy of Passion, Safety, and Humility
Despite his extreme maneuvers, Holland was deeply respected for his dedication to safety and professionalism. “One of my goals is to take aerobatics to the next level,” he once said. “I want to push the limits of what can be done.” John Cudahy, president and CEO of the International Council of Air Shows, described him as “very well respected in the industry” and a model of practiced, responsible flying.
Jim Bourke, president of the International Aerobatic Club, remembered him as “a friend, a mentor, a leader, and an innovator.” The E3 Aviation Association called him “an extraordinary pilot, an incredible person, and a true hero,” while private astronaut and entrepreneur Jared Isaacman paid tribute to the “airshow legend.”
Holland’s love for flight began in childhood after witnessing an inverted plane at an airshow. From that moment, he hung all his model planes upside down in his room. He earned his pilot’s license as a teenager and soon transitioned into aerobatics. Alongside this, he worked as a corporate and commuter pilot, flight instructor, ferry pilot, and operated his own aerobatic flight school.
A 1997 graduate of Daniel Webster College in New Hampshire, Holland remained grounded despite his sky-high success. As one tribute noted, “Rob was the most humble person with a singular goal to simply be better than he was yesterday.”
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