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Hire Learning 
photo by Jason Millstein
“Don’t underestimate the work involved,” cautions 53-year-old Boriak. With all of its torque rolls and vertical climbs, aerobatic flying could be the most demanding sport there is. “You have to be in top shape, mentally and physically,” he says. Imagine corkscrewing through the air at 300 miles an hour, with the earth and sky changing places every two seconds, negative and positive G-forces treating you like a punching bag, and, while all this is going on, keeping your hands on the controls and your breakfast in your stomach. “Throwing up is a situational response,” says Boriak. “It’s just one of those things that happens.” And fortunately, when it does, it’s usually after you’ve landed. Boriak’s camps can be anywhere there’s an airfield, good weather, and enough wild blue yonder to really get creative. Recently, Boriak conducted a three-day training class in Coolidge, Arizona, a location famous for its empty skies and stable weather. Pupils tend to be seasoned pilots bored with ordinary flying who want to put themselves and their aircraft to the ultimate test. Many of his clients are corporate executives, real estate developers, and investment bankers who fly as a hobby, though Boriak says he also enrolls a fair number of commercial airline pilots tired of holding patterns and flight delays and eager for some fun at the controls. (Think of a truck driver getting behind the wheel of a Formula One racer.) Since most sport planes are single-seaters, Boriak coaches from the ground, communicating with fliers by radio. Each eight-minute flight is preceded by a half-hour briefing and followed by a one-hour debriefing; a day’s training generally consists of three flights. 
photo by Jason Millstein
“Sergei is an amazing teacher,” says Cory Lovell, 30, a San Francisco software supplier who brought his Sukhoi Su-26 to the Arizona camp. “He has so much experience. It’s like he’s right there in the cockpit. He tells you what you’re doing right or wrong on the radio and can talk you through any situation.” Lovell, like most other pilots-in-training, gets ready to take to the air with plenty of sit-ups, jogging, and weight training. “Upper-body strength and stamina are essential,” he says. Note to would-be campers: Sport flying is not for those afraid of heights or on a limited budget. A top-of-the-line plane—a Russian-made Sukhoi, a French CAP-232, or an American Zivko Edge 540—can set you back $250,000 to $350,000; add the cost of training, maintenance, and other necessities, and the sky is literally the limit. “Most of my students have a lot of money,” explains Boriak. As with any high-adrenaline pastime, there can be risks, Boriak admits. But the Kazakh has had to bail out of a plane only once in his entire career. “Basically, aerobatics is safer than walking down the street,” he claims. And if you believe that, there might just be an opening for you at Boriak’s next camp. Highlights: High-stakes aerial maneuvers at 300 mph Location: Anywhere, U.S.A. Price: $350 per day, plus expenses Contact: sergeiboriak.com |
