RJ Gritter

The son of a test pilot (dad) and a flight instructor (mom), RJ has been in the cockpit his entire life. Growing up in Greensboro, NC, he started flying before he was tall enough to see over the instrument panel! He soloed on his 16th birthday, and got his private pilot license on his 17th.

RJ developed a passion for aerobatics through radio-control (R/C) flying. He started competing in R/C aerobatics at age 16 in national and international events, representing the US in indoor precision and freestyle aerobatic championships. R/C flying gave him a strong background for “full-scale” aerobatic flying.

RJ earned his bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from North Carolina State University. He got his Decathlon, learned aerobatics, and flew his first air show – all in the span of just one year! And that was only seven short years ago. Since then, RJ has flown more than 200 air show performances, and has logged more than 1,000 hours.

*Performers are subject to change without notice

Gritter’s Decathlon