Steinbach pilot scheduled to fly in Manitoba AirShow

A pilot from Steinbach will display his aerobatic skills later this summer at the Manitoba AirShow. 

The AirShow is making its return to Southport following a six-year absence. Luke Penner Aerobatics will be performing at the event, planned for August 3rd and 4th. 

Penner provided entertainment on Tuesday at the second annual Taste of Summer held at the Steinbach Airport. And after delighting guests with his aerobatic skills, it was off to Iceland to train the next generation of pilots.

For Penner, his aviation career started about two decades ago, following in the footsteps of his father, Harv Penner. 

"My father, he taught me how to fly way back in 2003," recalls Penner. "When I finished my private pilot license, as a way to celebrate, he took me up in an aerobatic airplane as just a celebration and I was hooked instantly."

Penner has never looked back and these days he is not only competing across North America but is also an instructor in aerobatic flying. And that is what brings him to Iceland.

"I come here every May and I train a group of aerobatic pilots," he says.

According to Penner, there are not a lot of aerobatic instructors in the world. Penner says Iceland discovered him about six or seven years ago and he's been going ever since. He notes late spring is "go time in the aerobatic world," after pilots endure a long winter of waiting. 

For Penner, competing in aerobatics is something he has been doing since 2016. Penner says he has taken part in about 30 different competitions across North America, finishing on the podium about 80 per cent of the time. His list of accomplishments includes being named Canadian national champion several times, finding the podium five times at the U.S. national championships, and finishing 20th at the world championships.

"I've been quite happy with my performance," he says.

Penner says the pinnacle of his aerobatic career thus far was being named captain of Team Canada at last year's World Advanced Aerobatic Championships in La Vegas. 

But, Penner admits he has more to accomplish, hoping to one day compete in unlimited at the World Aerobatic Championships. He notes they are held every other year, and his goal is to compete in 2026. Beyond that, Penner says he is also hoping to get his name out there more as an airshow pilot. 

"I really enjoy doing that, it's a very different kind of flying than the competition stuff," he says. "It's really fun getting to interact with the public and see the reactions to people that aren't used to seeing such manoeuvres flown by these kinds of airplanes."

He says his goal is also to continue inspiring the next generation of pilots who have not been exposed to aerobatic flying. 

"The way I see pilots improve in their skills and confidence when they do even a little bit of aerobatic training, it's so satisfying to see that," says Penner. "My goal is just to keep inspiring people, to follow their dreams and if learning how to do aerobatics is something that they want to try, then we love training people in that and just seeing the growth in their personal journey as a pilot."

Penner says in 20 years of aerobatic flying he continues to push himself to a higher and higher level. He notes in aerobatics he is in constant pursuit of perfection. And though perfection is unreachable, Penner says there is always a higher level to get to. 

With files from Corny Rempel