Despite the name, the sport has six events: shooting, fencing, orienteering, basketball skills, obstacle course and swimming.
The idea is to prepare air force officers for evading enemy soldiers.
The sports are said to represent various aspects of flying, such as shooting and basketball for hand-eye coordination and fencing for combat.
During the 1950s there were flying events in military aircraft included, such as precision navigation requiring the finish line to be crossed at an exact time.
[citation needed] The sport was begun in 1948 and there are Military Aeronautical Pentathlon World Championships.