The Sistema Aresti Dictionary of aerobatic figures created and developed by José Luis Aresti Aguirre, a leading Spanish aerobatic pilot, was first published in 1961. It provided the foundation for the Aresti Catalogue (Condensed) that we use today.

Before this time there was little standardisation in the notation systems that pilots used to describe the figures that they would fly, and consequently judging interpretation and technique could vary widely from one judge - and one event - to another. Initially the Sistema Aresti Dictionary depicted some 3,000 figures, each with their own difficulty coefficient, and over time this number inevitably increased. By the 1964 Third FAI World Aerobatic Championship in Bilbao however CIVA had introduced an improved and simplified grading system, and this forms the basis for the structure that we all use in the second decade of the 20th century.

The Aresti Cup, donated by Col. Jose L. Aresti of Spain to the FAI in the 1960's, is presented to the World Aerobatic Champion. The trophy was first presented in 1964 to Tomas Castano of Spain. Not only the most prestigious award given in competition, the Aresti Cup is also truly a work of art - created in silver with gold embellishments and featuring gold coins around its diameter symbolizing member nations of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. The trophy is topped with a golden globe that featured Col. Aresti's favorite aircraft, the Bücker Jungmeister, but which has now been lost to time. The names of past Champions are engraved around the base of the trophy.