New Section by Anthony Romano - Aerobatics!

Update:

I spent a lot of time in the NSRCA booth at the WRAM show and got lots of feedback. I was surprised at the number of pilots that don't understand what maneuvers should look like, let alone how to put them together sequences.The key to aerobatics is to know what your plane is doing and to have a picture in your mind of what you want it to do. Too many people play fetch with their airplanes. They let it go a while then bring it back to themselves. Today I hope to help to put you in charge of your flights.

First what do the maneuvers look like?
This site has some videos of basic maneuvers and comments on how they should be flown.

http://www.nsrca.org/d7/practice.htm

Next is to visualize the maneuvers as you fly them. A great tool for this is a stick plane. Just a simple representation of an airplane that you can hold in your hand push through the maneuvers. You have a small plane somewhere in your home right? Hand flying a sequence of manuevers during commercials gives you time to think out control inputs and ponder wind corrections. A nice quick plan here using wood from your scrap box. Caution your wife will make fun of you.

http://www.nsrca.org/D8/

then go to downloads and look for the stick plane is near the bottom of the misc donwloads. You have the option of a PDF or powerpoint file.

Once you start to get the picture of the maneuver in your mind the next is to draw it in the sky. The first step is to know where the airplane is at any and all attitudes. The key to that is knowing where wings level is. This link gives a great quick description.

http://home.comcast.net/~scottcov/mustlearn.htm

Wings level will look different at different points in the sky. At the ends of the field angles will look flatter and it will be easier to see more of the wings. At the center you should see some of the opposite wing and this will vary depending on your airplane and your altitude. In vertical lines and loops wings level is also harder to determine. In many of these attitudes the angle of the fuse becomes very important. These exercises are a great way learn your aircraft.

http://home.comcast.net/~scottcov/practice_t.htm


The first one is simply a very big rectangle. Fly a straight line into the wind and once you are well past yourself open the throttle and smoothly pull to vertical. Draw a nice straight vertical line and gently pull ( airspeed will be down and the plane will respond differently) to inverted horizontal flight downwind. Back to cruise speed draw a nice straight inverted line to a point well past yourself on the opposite end of the field. Drop the throttle and Again, gently pull ( the airplane will respond differently again) to a vertical down line. Watching your altitude gently pull back to horizontal and return to your cruise throttle setting. If everything went well you should be back were you started at the same altitude and distance.
Grab that stick plane and give these a try. Confused!? Don't worry reread the last paragraph and try it again. Now print these out and bring them to the field and try them. Don't worry if you have trouble or wind up laughing a lot. This is all part of the process. Keep practicing because there is a lot to learn here. It will take time but I guarantee you will have some fun and wind up learning quite a bit in the process.

If you need help grab me at the field or shoot me an email but keep trying.


Anthony

Introduction

According to Wikipedia --- Aerobatics is the demonstration of flying maneuvers for recreation or entertainment. To me aerobatics is the reason I fly RC airplanes. The challenge of perfecting the maneuver, to be able to fly a sequence in either direction and in any wind is an addiction I have pursued since learning to solo.

All aerobatic maneuvers are made of four basic elements a line, a roll, a loop or a stall. The most complex of maneuvers are combinations of all of these elements demanding higher levels of skill from the pilot in order to performed correctly. These complex aerobatic maneuvers are a test of the pilot’s ability to give multiple control inputs while maintaining orientation in unusual attitudes.

One of the main reasons I compete in aerobatics is the never-ending challenge and learning. When I was the director of flight training students would be engrossed in the challenge to solo. Once that goal was met their enthusiasm waned and many would drop out of the hobby. Aerobatics gives me new challenges and each day I go to the field with a specific plan in mind. A plan to try to learn a new maneuver or try a new set up to improve my aircraft.

Aerobatics are also practiced as a sport. Some pilots fly solely for recreation, many choose to compete in aerobatic competitions. Many people are afraid of competition but, even at the national level, competitions are friendly gatherings of like-minded peoples trying to improve their individual skills.

The types of competition available to the RC pilot are as diverse as the types of RC aircraft. Competition is available for helicopters and gliders as well as powered aircraft. Precision Aerobatics, which I am most familiar, follows the FAI international guidelines limiting aircraft to two meters size and a 5 kilograms in weight. Scale Aerobatics requires the competitors to use models of full-scale aircraft. There are no size limits in Scale Aerobatics and most pilots are competing with 35% or larger aircraft.

Several people have asked me for more information and coaching over the last few months so I have started this page to provide more information. Look through some of the links and give it a try. Not only will you learn something you might just have a lot of fun in the process. If you have questions shoot me an email Anthonyr105@hotmail.com or grab me at the field.

Getting started

Good info overall and the advanced training area has good hints on the basics

http://www.masportaviator.com/fh_at.asp

Good info on trimming and setup

http://www.masportaviator.com/fh.asp?CatID=8

Drills for the most important maneuver. The elusive straight line

http://www.nsrca.org/technical/beginners/begin4.htm


Long but good descriptions, tips and drills on 3D and Precision maneuvers


http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/AwesomePilot.htm


Great tips from painting to flying

http://members.cox.net/don.ramsey/

http://www.rcaerobats.net/



Competition – Yes you can!

Precision Aerobatics
http://www.nsrca.org/

Scale Aerobatics
http://www.iac.org/magazine/july_article.html


I know nothing about these two but we have a few members who can help.

Choppers
http://www.ircha.org/
Gliders
http://www.soaringissa.org/