The BAeA / BGA Aerobatic Badge Scheme

In the United Kingdom, Gliding is governed by the BGA (British Gliding Association) whilst aerobatic competition for both powered and glider is governed by British Aerobatics. The aerobatic badge scheme was developed jointly by British Aerobatics and the BGA and includes five levels of competence:

  • Standard (Club) - Competent to undertake solo test sequence of basic figures only
  • Sports - A high standard of competence in basic +ve G figures
  • Intermediate - A high standard of competence in intermediate level figures involving rolling and inverted flight
  • Advanced – A high standard of competence in advanced figures involving rolling, inverted flight, tailslides and vertical rolls
  • Unlimited - A high standard of competence in advanced figures involving rolling, inverted flight, tailslides, flicks and vertical rolls

Badge Tests

  • The candidate must have received clearance from a BGA Aerobatic Instructor to carry out the figures included at the relevant level before attempting any test. For the Standard (Club) Badge, this may be given by any FI(S) with privileges to teach the Basic SFCL syllabus. For Sports and above, this can be given by any FI(S) with privileges to teach the Advanced SFCL syllabus.
  • The candidate must be alone in the aircraft for each test.
  • The Standard badge test may be witnessed by any FI(S) with privileges to teach the Basic SFCL syllabus.
  • The Sports, Intermediate and Advanced badge tests are to be witnessed by a British Aerobatics judge or judges.
  • The Unlimited badge test is to be witnessed and scored by no less than three British Aerobatics', or three Internationally recognised, aerobatic judges.
  • Scoring of Sports, Intermediate, Advanced and Unlimited badge tests will be in accordance with the "British Aerobatics Criteria for Judging Aerobatic Figures " as published by the British Aerobatics.


Standard (Club) Badge

  1. 45 degree climbing and diving lines (k7)
  2. Loop (k10)
  3. Chandelle (Wingover) (k8)
  4. 360 degree erect turn (k6)

Observed solo sequence including each of the above figures. Direction of turn in each figure to be at the pilots discretion.


Sports Badge

Scored sequence containing 9 or 10 figures taken from the following list :-

  1. 45 degree lines ( k7 )
  2. Loop ( k10 )
  3. Chandelle (Wingover) ( k8 )
  4. 360 degree erect turn ( k6 )
  5. Humpty Bump ( k13 )
  6. Quarter clover ( k16 )
  7. Stall turn ( k17 )xx


The total k factor for the sequence shall not be less than 130 and all figures from the prescribed list must be included. No figure shall be repeated more than once. A positioning mark with a k factor of 15 will be included in the final score.

A default sequence may be chosen from the British Aerobatics Sports class known sequences published for the period of the test.

A minimum score of 70% is required to pass. If the test is carried out as an entry in a British Aerobatics contest the official final scores, after computation in accordance with the TBL system, will be taken as evidence of satisfactory performance.


Intermediate Badge

The Intermediate Badge test shall comprise one known and one unknown sequence as defined below :-

a) Known Sequence

Scored sequence containing 12 figures chosen by the candidate from the following list :-

  1. 45 degree climbing and diving lines ( k7 )
  2. Loop ( k10 )
  3. Chandelle (Wingover) (k8)
  4. 360 degree erect turn ( k6 )
  5. Humpty Bump ( k13 )
  6. Quarter clover ( k16 )
  7. Stall turn ( k17 )
  8. Full roll ( k10 )
  9. Half roll inverted ( k6 )
  10. Half roll erect ( k6 )
  11. Cuban eight ( k27 )
  12. Half Cuban ( k14 )
  13. Half reverse Cuban ( k16 )
  14. Split S ( k10 )
  15. Immelman ( k10 )

The total k factor for the sequence shall not be less than 135 and no figure shall be included more than once. A default sequence may be chosen from the British Aerobatics Intermediate Class known sequences published for the period of the test.

b) Unknown Sequence

A scored unknown sequence containing a maximum of 14 figures from the forgoing list, set by the examiner on the day of the test and flown without practice. The minimum k factor shall be as defined for the known sequence. This test may be carried out as part of an entry in a British Aerobatics Intermediate Class competition.

A minimum score of 70% is required to pass in both the known and the unknown sequences. If the test is carried out as an entry in a British Aerobatics contest the official final scores, after computation in accordance with the FairPlay system, will be taken as evidence of satisfactory performance. A positioning mark with a k factor of 20 will be included in the final score for each flight.

The known and unknown sequences may be flown on different days.


Advanced Badge

The Advanced Badge test shall comprise one known and one unknown sequence as defined below :-

a) Known Sequence

Scored sequence containing 10 figures chosen by the candidate from the following list :-

  1. 45 degree climbing and diving lines ( k7 )
  2. Loop ( k10 )
  3. Chandelle (Wingover) (k8)
  4. 360 degree erect turn ( k6 )
  5. Positive Spin ( k25_)
  6. Humpty Bump ( k13 )
  7. Quarter clover ( k16 )
  8. Stall turn ( k17 )
  9. Full roll ( k10 )
  10. Half roll inverted ( k6 )
  11. Half roll erect ( k6 )
  12. Cuban eight ( k27 )
  13. Half Cuban ( k14 )
  14. Half reverse Cuban ( k16 )
  15. Split S ( k10 )
  16. Immelman ( k10 )
  17. Tailslide ( k15 )

The total k factor for the sequence shall not be less than 170 and no figure shall be included more than once. A default sequence may be chosen from the British Aerobatics Advanced Class known sequences published for the period of the test. This test may be carried out as part of an entry in a British Aerobatics Advanced Class competition.

b) Unknown Sequence

A scored unknown sequence containing a maximum of 10 figures from the forgoing list, set by the examiner on the day of the test and flown without practice. The minimum k factor shall be as defined for the known sequence. This test may be carried out as part of an entry in a British Aerobatics Advanced Class competition.

A minimum combined score of 70% across both sequences is required. If the test is carried out as an entry in a British Aerobatics contest the official final scores, after computation in accordance with the FairPlay system, will be taken as evidence of satisfactory performance. A positioning mark with a k factor of 20 will be included in the final score for each flight.

The known and unknown sequences may be flown on different days.


Unlimited Badge

The Unlimited Badge test shall comprise one known, one unknown and one free sequence as defined below :-

a) Known Sequence

To be chosen from the Known Compulsory programmes for Glider Aircraft published by CIVA for the current year.

b) Unknown Sequence

To be constructed by a minimum of three unlimited glider aerobatic pilots in accordance with CIVA Regulations for Unknown Compulsory programmes for Glider Aircraft. To be presented to the candidate on the day of the test and flown without practice. The total k factor for the sequence shall not be less than 220.

c) Free Sequence

To be constructed by the candidate in accordance with CIVA Regulations for Free Programmes for Glider Aircraft. The total k factor for the sequence shall not be less than 215.

A minimum score of 70% in each sequence is required to pass. If the tests are carried out as an entry in a British Aerobatics or International contest the official final scores, after computation in accordance with the FairPlay system, will be taken as evidence of satisfactory performance. In all other circumstances the average of the judges scores will used to assess compliance.

Positioning, Harmony and Versatility marks will be included in the final scores as defined in the CIVA Regulations "Part Two - Events for Glider Aircraft".

The known, unknown and free sequences may each be flown on different days.