Crosswind Corrections During a Loop

Crosswind Corrections During a Loop

Excluding pilot error, crosswinds cause the majority of the deviations that aerobatic pilots have to correct. For example, when a loop is performed in a crosswind, the airplane will drift sideways with the wind during the slower portion of the loop. A loop that is entered flying parallel with the runway will finish downwind and no longer track parallel, therefore requiring additional corrections to get back on track before another maneuver can be attempted. Learning to anticipate and apply rudder into the wind to prevent wind drift during loops will significantly reduce the need for corrections afterward. Consequently, not only will your flying become easier overall, but there will be more time to think between maneuvers. You must be proficient at the basic loop sequence before introducing the rudder or else the rudder will take attention away from the all-important right stick and cause your loops to become inconsistent. Remember, rudder is a refinement added to what are already pretty good loops. If you start botching your loops, temporarily leave the rudder out and focus on the basics. Then, while maintaining good fundamentals, try adding the rudder again.  BY DAVID SCOTT

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Updated: March 31, 2016 — 11:51 AM

1 Comment

  1. A little rudder goes a long way. Use small gradual inputs to get a feel of the aircraft’s ability to yaw.

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