Is boat race exciting display by pilots? (10)
I believe the answer is:
aerobatics
'display by pilots?' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'is boat race exciting' is the wordplay.
'exciting' indicates anagramming the letters.
'is'+'boat'+'race'='isboatrace'
'isboatrace' with letters rearranged gives 'AEROBATICS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for aerobatics that I've seen before include "some spinning off the ground?" , "display of stunt flying" , "Spectacular flying" .)