Patty Wagstaff

Patty Wagstaff
Wagstaff in 2004
Born	Patricia Rosalie Kearns Combs (1951-09-11) September 11, 1951 (age 65) St. Louis, Missouri
Residence	Florida
Known for	Aerobatic Champion

Patty Wagstaff (née Patricia Rosalie Kearns Combs; born 11 September 1951) is an American aerobatic national champion pilot.

Wagstaff traveled all over the world as a child; her father was a pilot for Japan Airlines, and Wagstaff would travel to Southeast Asia, Australia and Alaska to prepare for her own career as a pilot. Her first lesson was on a Cessna 185; since then, she has earned certificates to fly multiple classes of aircraft, including helicopters. Her sister, Toni, is a pilot for Continental Airlines.

In 1985 Wagstaff qualified for the US Aerobatic Team and competed until 1996. She was the top U.S. medal winner, winning gold, silver and bronze medals in international competition for several years. In 1987 she earned the Rolly Cole memorial award for her contributions to the aerobatic sports, and in 1991, she won her first of three US National Aerobatic Championships, the first woman to win that competition. In 1991, Western Flyer's Magazine readers chose her as their favorite pilot. She was the International Aerobatic Club champion in 1993. In 1994, her Goodrich-sponsored Extra 260 airplane was put on display next to Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum.

From 1988 to 1994, she won the Betty Skelton First Lady of Aerobatics award six times in a row.

In 1996 Wagstaff was the top-scoring US pilot at the World Aerobatics Championship. In 1996 she also won the GAN & Flyer Magazine Reader's Choice award as favorite female pilot, as well as the Charlie Hillard trophy.