Addison-based aviation training provider Thrust Flight has announced the launch of its Thrust Aerobatic Training Package and the formation of the Thrust Aerobatic Team—giving student pilots “hands-on experience in advanced aerobatics that few flight schools offer.”

The program offers structured, high-performance training, paving the way for students to refine their skills, gain confidence, and compete in national-level events using purpose-built new aircraft, including the GB1 GameBird and Super Decathlon.

Photo: Thrust Flight

“By pairing high-level aerobatic training with a real path into competition, we’re opening doors that most flight schools simply don’t,” Patrick Arnzen, founder and CEO of Thrust Flight, said in a statement. “The training is structured, professional and tightly controlled so students can grow fast and fly with confidence. They leave with sharper skills, stronger judgment and a real sense of what they’re capable of.”

The Thrust Aerobatic Training Package provides eight hours of specialized aerobatic and upset recovery instruction. Students train in crucial skills such as upset prevention and recovery, advanced decision-making, precision control, and situational awareness under dynamic flight conditions, the company said. The program also helps students master flight techniques and judgment skills that airline recruiters seek.

Photo: Thrust Flight

When they complete the program, top-performing students are invited to try out for the Thrust Aerobatic Team, which the the company calls the only flight school-sponsored aerobatic team in the U.S. With just four other colleges now operating aerobatic teams, Thrust Flight said it’s the first non-collegiate flight school in the nation to offer this opportunity, giving participants visibility and real-world experience unavailable elsewhere.

‘More than a certificate’ offered in Addison and Denison

Thrust Flight Founder and CEO Patrick Arnzen [Photo: Thrust Flight]

The Thrust Aerobatic Training Package is currently offered at Thrust Flight’s Addison and Denison campuses, with plans for further expansion. Students who complete the program gain membership in the Aerobatic Instructor Community (AIC) and receive branded team merchandise. Those invited to join the Thrust Aerobatic Team participate in demonstration flights, formation aerobatics (as approved), and events ranging from recruiting activities to industry functions, giving them real-world experience beyond traditional pilot training.

“This is about giving students more than a certificate at the end,” Arnzen said. “If they’re willing to put in the work, we want to give them a place to grow, a higher standard to chase and a chance to see what they can really do.”

Thrust Flight is a nationally recognized aviation training provider with locations across Texas. Over the past 15 years, the company has trained thousands of pilots through its flagship Zero Time to Airline program, preparing them to fly for commercial airlines around the globe. Today, Thrust Flight offers an array of FAA-approved programs for pilots, aircraft maintenance technicians, and flight dispatchers, supporting various aviation career paths.

Photo: Thrust Flight

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