Simple Aerobatics

In any type of flying, including a model flying, there is always the thrill of seeing an aircraft doing aerobatics.  This short article will show some of the basic manoeuvres that model pilots attempt to do.  Some of these manoeuvres you will see being performed at this weekend's show.  Of course I hope you'll see a far more complicated manoeuvres being performed and the live commentary will point these out to you. 

The first manoeuvre that all pilots want to perform is ‘The Loop.’ Generally this manoeuvre is performed into wind.  Pilots often dive into this to gain speed, then pull back the control operating the elevator to raise the nose.  This continues until the plane is inverted, at which point the pilot throttles back, so not to accelerate towards the ground, then brings the plane back to normal level flight.  The loop should be as circular as possible, with the plane continuing on the same heading, at the same height after the manoeuvre is complete.

The ‘Immelmann turn’ is a simple yet very effective manoeuvre. The name is derived from its inventor Max Immelmann, a WWI German Ace who devised the method. It starts off in the same way as the loop. At the top of the loop the aircraft is inverted and the pilot rolls the aircraft back into the upright position. The aircraft is now at a higher altitude and has changed heading through 180 degrees.

The ‘split S’ is in some ways almost opposite to the previous manoeuvre.  In a ‘split S’ the pilot is flying straight and level.  The plane is then rolled through half a turn, then immediately completes half an inside loop.  The aircraft is now at a lower altitude and has changed heading through 180 degrees.  The first time this manoeuvre is performed by a model pilot, it essential to start the manoeuvre at a good altitude otherwise the plane won't have levelled out before it hits the ground!!

There are many types of rolls.  Ham, cheese and a BLT come to mind, however, I digress.  A single roll is fairly straightforward however it becomes more challenging when you try and put two rolls together in succession. To do a "regular" roll, pull the nose up to 10 degrees or so then apply full aileron in either direction. As the plane rolls and levels off, release the ailerons stick.  Depending upon the model some down elevator may need to be applied when the model is inverted to keep the nose up.

Other aerobatic manoeuvres include the Cuban-8, a spin, a stall turn, a bunt (and outside loop) and a knife edge.  They all take practice, and those pilots you see performing this weekend will have spent many hours perfecting their flying skills and routines.

For further information checkout;

http://www.geistware.com/rcmodeling/aerobatics/maneuvers/index.htm