When you’re flying a stable elevator, you can perform an inside “waterfall” (micro loop) by maintaining full up-elevator, and applying full power and a little right rudder to correct for increased propwash and P-factor. On the back side of the loop, quickly cut the power and neutralize the rudder. Then, at the instant the fuselage [...]
A major cornerstone of 3D flying, the harrier pass consists of flying an airplane at a very high angle of attack at a very low airspeed. In this “high alpha” or post-stall position, it can be said that the plane is flying more on the prop than on the wing. Control during a harrier is [...]
There is no doubt that many aerobatic enthusiasts are interested in performing extreme moves. It is important however, to build your aerobatic sequences on a solid foundation. Years ago, when I first became interested in aerobatics, 3D flying did not exist. Instead, we concentrated on precision aerobatics and honed our skills while competing at various [...]
The snap roll is an advanced maneuver that you’ll first encounter in the IMAC Sportsman sequence. It evolves into more difficult variations in the upper classes of competition. It is one of the most difficult maneuvers in which to consistently achieve a high score because it requires a keen sense of timing, throttle management and [...]
If you’ve seen individual IMAC maneuvers, you’ve probably noticed one factor that ties everything together: straight and level flight. When flying an aerobatic sequence, you must start and finish each of your maneuvers in straight and level flight. Since straight and level flight signifies the end of one maneuver and the beginning of the next [...]
Mixing out unwanted tendencies during knife-edge is widely practiced, but like most things in aviation, there are trade-offs to consider. Programmable mixes let you automatically mix another control with your primary input to reduce or eliminate some of the unwanted tendencies associated with certain inputs and maneuvers. For example, when you apply a lot of [...]
4 SIMPLE STEPS TO THIS IMPRESSIVE MOVE This month, we will discuss a competition maneuver called the “avalanche.” Even if you don’t aspire to be a competition pilot, you can learn from the fundamentals in this exciting move. For example, I’m sure a lot of you have performed a basic loop. [...]
Because it’s used in so many other maneuvers, it’s important to perfect this one and add it to your foundation repertoire. High-speed rolls are generally easier to start with because inertia is a tremendous help. Long, graceful rolls are usually done at medium to high speed to allow inertia to help keep the maneuver axial. [...]
