stunt flying

1 7.4

To do dangerous tricks in an airplane, often at airshows

noun
/stʌnt ˈflaɪɪŋ/

: vuelo acrobático

It is a high-spirited moment, like old-fashioned stunt flying or walking on wings.

Examples

During the airshow, the crowd gasped at the breathtaking stunt flying performed by the skilled pilot.
"Stunt flying is one thing, but constantly showing off is another." "I did no such thing!"

Fiction book (2001)
The pilot demonstrated stunt flying by executing loops and barrel rolls in the sky.
The audience enjoyed watching stunt flying, which included impressive flips and dives.

Synonyms

aerobatics

vsstunt flying

1 8.2

Difficult flying stunts that pilots do in planes for show or sport

focuses on performing those maneuvers in flight beyond sport contexts

acrobatics

vsstunt flying

Specialized

1 6.9

Daring flying moves pilots do to show skill, such as loops and rolls

is the general aviation activity that includes such performances and maneuvers

stunting

vsstunt flying

7.8

Doing dangerous, exciting tricks with a plane to show skill

is the specific aviation activity of doing those daring flight moves

How Daring

stunt flying

1 7.4

acrobatics

Specialized

1 6.9

aerobatics

1 8.2

to maneuver

65 5.8

flight

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

stunt flying singular

stunt flyings plural

Morphology

stunt + flying

The meaning 'performing aerobatic maneuvers while flying' is directly and compositionally built from 'stunt' (a daring physical act) + 'flying' (traveling through the air). This is a straightforward compound noun following productive patterns in English (and similar in other languages), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would very likely infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Stunt flying comes from stunt, a bold trick, and flying, being in the air. It creates the image of a pilot doing risky loops and rolls to amaze people, so it means 'doing risky tricks in the air'.