Aerobatic Pilots and Fake Instagram Followers: Ethics Crash Mid-Flight

In the skies, they brush perfection. Precision spins, flawless rolls, figures executed with near-military rigor: aerobatic pilots embody absolute mastery. But in a time when fame is built as much online as in the air, some aren’t afraid to blur the lines. This is an investigation into a quiet but very real drift: active pilots buying fake Instagram followers.

The Digital Illusion for a Few Extra Likes and Money from Sponsors

On the surface, everything seems perfect. Instagram accounts with tens of thousands of followers, polished photos of cockpits and breathtaking maneuvers, a few well-chosen hashtags. But behind the façade sometimes lies a carefully orchestrated lie.

In just a few clicks, for a handful of euros, anyone can transform their profile: 800 followers become 15,000, and virtual influence takes off. The goal? Attract sponsors, gain visibility, impress governing bodies.

“It’s a race for a showcase, but with no substance behind it,” explains someone from the industry. “And it distorts everything.”

A Telling Video

One of the most striking cases was brought to our attention recently, backed by video evidence. On the recorded screen capture, a stunt pilot’s Instagram account shows over 40,000 followers. Analyzing the first accounts on the list (editor’s note: the most recent followers), you first see familiar names — friends, businesses, fans… then suddenly, a sharp shift.

The rest? A flood of suspicious-looking accounts:

• Automatically generated usernames or names typical of Indian, Pakistani, or South American profiles
• Around fifteen irrelevant posts, often recycled images
• Only 3 or 4 followers
• But thousands of accounts followed
• No real interaction: no comments, few or no likes

“It’s glaring. It jumps out at you. It’s almost insulting to those who build their audience honestly,” laments a community manager working for an aerobatics school.

A Red Line Crossed in Silence

In a sport built on rigor and exemplary behavior, this practice raises deep concerns. Because faking one’s popularity is a betrayal of the very spirit of aerobatics.

“We can’t demand excellence in flight and accept dishonesty on the ground,” sums up one judge. “Buying followers to attract sponsors is like lying about your piloting skills. It mocks the people who make it possible for you to fly.”

The issue isn’t just moral — it’s structural. These inflated numbers mislead sponsors, event organizers… and young pilots, who believe they have to bet everything on their digital image to be seen. The problem is not confined to one country but is international in scope; however, our investigations have revealed a significant number of fake followers among pilots from France, the UK, and the United States.

Fooling Sponsors: The High Cost of a Hollow Image

Behind the glossy Instagram profiles and inflated follower counts lies a darker truth—sponsors, often relying heavily on social media metrics to choose their partners, are being deceived. When pilots purchase fake followers, they create an illusion of popularity and influence that doesn’t reflect real engagement or fan support. This can lead sponsors to invest money and resources based on false pretenses, undermining the integrity of sponsorship deals. More than just a superficial cheat, it jeopardizes trust between pilots and their backers, threatening long-term relationships and the very financial foundation that supports the sport. In the end, the fallout hits everyone—from honest pilots struggling to secure funding, to sponsors misallocating their budgets, to fans who believe in a crafted persona rather than authentic achievement.

Instagram: Shop Window or Smokescreen?

With features allowing likes and comments to be hidden, Instagram has become a double-edged tool. A profile can look impressive, while hiding a complete lack of real engagement.

But in a tight-knit world like aerobatics, where everyone knows everyone, the truth always comes out eventually.

Leading by Example — Also Online

A pilot isn’t just a high-flying technician. They are a role model, a public figure, an ambassador of their discipline. As such, they must embody values of ethics and honesty — both in the air and online.

Buying followers is like cheating on a test. Just because you weren’t caught doesn’t mean it’s not serious.

Our Opinion: Time to Come Back Down to Earth — Fast

Why the need to lie about your popularity? Is it the obsession with being liked? Fear of anonymity? Commercial pressure? Whatever the cause, cheating is not the answer.

At a time when social media is becoming almost as influential as competition results, it is more important than ever to defend a simple but fundamental idea:

In aerobatics, as in life, excellence isn’t measured in followers. It’s proven through commitment, hard work… and truth.