flying basic competition aerobatics david pilkington july 2013

FLYING BASICCOMPETITION AEROBATICS

David Pilkington

July 2013

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The options Five categories at a contest – typical

aircraft desired Unlimited – Extra 300 or Sukhoi or CAP 232 Advanced – Laser or Pitts S-1 Intermediate – Pitts S-2A Sportsman – Super Decathlon, Robin 2160,

Airtourer 150/T-6 Graduate – Citabria, Decathlon, Cessna

150/152 or Airtourer

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Arriving at the contest Practice beforehand – critique from

ground Registration Official practice Local landmarks Jobs – boundary, penciller … Briefing – for your safety

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Preflight Watch wind effect on previous pilots Plan entry to box and xwind correctors Walk through the sequence Fly it just like the practice (critiqued) Starter:

Direction of flight Holding instructions Fuel harness

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The Box

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Enter the box Enter on tight base & final, in a dive Start dive at …… ft For first figure at …….. ft Line up on the centre of the box, the left

side of box or is that the right side? Waggle wings, then straight & level Plan to be away from the judges when high

and come closer as lower – if you can see the judges, they can see you!

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The Loop

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Lines

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Zero Lift Angle

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45O Lines

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Marking the figures - the basic rules Start with a perfect 10 – deduct errors

seen to nearest ½ point Every 5O off line is 1 point Zero for:

Exceeding 90O off line Wrong way on x axis Wrong figure

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Slow Rolls

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Spin Constant height on entry Left or right? Recovery technique Vertical down Speed for next figure

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Stall turn Vertical up and down Hit the rudder at the right speed Equal radii in and out Do NOT need to finish at same altitude

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Fly the sequence, not figures Before each manoeuvre consider whether you have

sufficient airspeed and height to safely perform it plus do it well enough to earn point. Also check that you are going the right direction in the box and are well positioned for the judges.

Break and climb, come around again if the answer is NO. Graduate has NIL penalty for a break. In any category a break is penalised by much less than messing up a figure.

3 wing dips to indicate a break and again to resume

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Fly the sequence, not figures Humpty

Position in the box centre Entry and exit radii must be equal Fly a radius at the top Does NOT have to finish at same altitude

– get speed for next figure Consider it like a loop with hesitation up

and down

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Fly the sequence, not figures Half Cuban Eight

Where are the judges? Loop radius and exit radius must be

equal 45 deg down on attitude - ZLA Does NOT have to finish at same altitude

– get speed for next figure Roll is centred

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Fly the sequence, not figures

Roll off the Top Half loop and then half roll

“much of how you will score is influenced by how you look in the first three figures ……… invest the altitude … reap any hero points”

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Fly the sequence, not figures 1 ¼ Spin

Which way to spin? Will finish yawed on down line – fix it

immediately Speed for next figure

GENERAL Break if getting low or way out of box or

risk of getting low in your next figure

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Fly the sequence, not figures Stall Turn

Which way to turn? Pause down before the roll then hold to

centre the roll Speed for next figure

GENERAL Break if getting low or way out of box or

risk of getting low in your next figure

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Fly the sequence, not figures Fish Hook

45 deg up on attitude then pause roll then hold

Pause on vertical down

Loop Centre it in front of the judges

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Fly the sequence, not figures The Turns

Fly straight then get to 60 deg bank then pull to turn

Constant angle of bank at constant height Stop the turn and then roll to level This is NOT a normal smooth entry and

exit to a steep turn Not many points so sue them to position

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Fly the sequence, not figures The Turns

Fly straight then get to 60 deg bank then pull to turn

Constant angle of bank at constant height Stop the turn and then roll to level This is NOT a normal smooth entry and

exit to a steep turn Important: which way to turn?

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Fly the sequence, not figures Hesitation Roll

Do NOT raise the nose at the start Fly it at constant height and constant roll

rate Pause inverted – for as long as it took to

roll inverted – hold the altitude Keep it straight with rudder as you finish –

don't relax the forward stick pressure too early

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Finish the sequence - focus Finish the Sequence

Wing dips Put Brain in gear – the aerobatics is over

Focus – aviate, navigate, communicate Understand the pilot briefing on box exit

and return to landing Ask if you do not understand