Most aircraft in an aerobatic loop

The largest number of aircraft to maintain formation through an aerobatic loop is 22, achieved by the British Royal Air Force "Black Arrows" display team over Hampshire, UK. The feat was achieved in front of spectators at the Farnborough Air Show on 4 September 1958.

The Black Arrows were an aerobatic display team drawn from the ranks of 111 Squadron, an RAF fighter unit. They were put together by Squadron Leader Roger L. Topp in 1956, and remained active until the early 1960s. At the time, many RAF squadrons operated their own quasi-official display teams – including the "Blue Diamonds" of the 92 Squadron, 56 Squadron's "Firebirds" and 74 Squadron's "Tigers". These were all replaced in 1965 by the Red Arrows – an official team operated by pilots of the Central Flying School.

The loop was part of a display that saw the Black Arrows fly onto the airshow grounds in formation at around 780 km/h (484 mph) and an altitude of just 15.2 m (50 ft). With Topp flying the lead aircraft, all 22 planes pulled up into a loop while maintaining a chevron formation. They then repeated this feat a second time before the outer six planes broke away, leaving just the core 16 aircraft of the Black Arrows team to perform their usual display routine.