What Kind Of Plane Does Patty Wagstaff Fly?
by Aero-News Senior Correspondent Kevin R.C. O'Brien
If you said, "Extra 300," you're
half right -- Patty will be pleasing her fans on the airshow
circuit this year in her familiar Extra 300S. But between shows
she'll travel in style in her new ride -- A Cirrus SR22-G2.
Like many airshow pilots who fly demanding aircraft, Patty has
an assistant ferry the aerobatic monoplane from one show venue to
the next. She flies a "traveling" plane -- and now she's got one of
the sweetest cross-country rides the industry offers. And hers is
not just any G2, but a pretty special one: the 2,000th plane that
Cirrus manufactured.
When introducing Wagstaff, Dale Klapmeier of Cirrus told the
press: "I hope everybody saw the aerobatic performance at the
airshow yesterday? Pretty easy to see what the best part of that
was? I was holding the pole for Patty Wagstaff when she cut the
ribbon. That should be the headline today! 'I held the pole!'" Dale
said with a grin. (As you see, we took him up on his dare. I bet he
doesn't try that again soon). It only took a moment for Dale to get
serious, though.
"We are really excited to announce that we are sponsoring Patty
Wagstaff's airplane. This is something that absolutely thrills us."
Dale went on to describe how it all started. Cirrus's Kate
Dougherty told Dale, "Patty flew the plane."
"Wow, that's cool," Dale said.
"Oh, but there's more," Kate said. "She really liked it."
"Wow, Patty liked it!"
"Oh, but there's more," Kate said. "She wants one."
"THAT's cool!" Dale enthused. "She wanted our airplane, which
started the whole relationship...."
After explaining that Patty would get the 2,000th airplane,
which is on display this week in the front of Cirrus's booth at
Airventure, Dale said, "What she means to aviation is what we're
after: safety in flight, and the fun of aviation... she's the
epitome of all these things."
"Most of you know, I really like airplanes with performance,"
Patty Wagstaff said. "And this is what drew me to Cirrus in the
first place." About Dale's story of how she came to the negotiating
table with the Duluth, Minnesota manufacturer? "It's true what Dale
says. I did fly the airplane recently. I was super impressed with
it; I gave Cirrus a call; we started talking.... and I have to say
I've watched Cirrus for a number of years... they're very
leading-edge."
"I wasn't skeptical, I just watched. And I'm not a believer in
buying first-generation anything. Whether it's a TV or a computer,
I like to see it get proven a little bit." She praised many of the
features of the Cirrus, especially its safety features, which she
called "outstanding" and "extraordinary."
"The excitement, enthusiasm, and... passion of the company is
very contagious."
The lively aerobatic ace, and former World Aerobatic Champion,
is known for her dramatic, physical and stylish airshow routine,
and she's one of the most effective spokeswomen that aerial sports
have ever put in front of the public, and certainly the most
sought-after endorser in aviation, period.
Everybody has always wanted to fly with Patty Wagstaff. Until
today, though, it wasn't just to get their hands on her G2.
NTSB Prelim: Cirrus Design Corp SR20
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