Rob Holland

Rob Holland was an American aerobatic pilot, born Robert Joseph Holland Jr. on 30 May 1974, who performed in airshows from 2002 until his death in a crash at Langley Air Force Base on 24 April 2025 while preparing for a performance. He studied aviation at Daniel Webster College and began competing in aerobatics in 2001, representing the United States on its Advanced and Unlimited aerobatic teams. His titles included six World Freestyle Aerobatic Championships, thirteen consecutive U.S. National Aerobatic Championships and fourteen U.S. Freestyle titles, along with the 2008 World Advanced Aerobatic Championship, the 2015 World Air Games freestyle gold medal and a bronze at the 2024 World Aerobatic Championships. He received the Charlie Hillard Trophy five times and the Art Scholl Award for Showmanship in 2012. Holland flew more than 180 types of aircraft, most famously the carbon fiber MXS-RH, and is credited with inventing or popularising maneuvers such as the Inside Tumble, Frisbee, Inverted Frisbee and Nivek.