CUSTOM
AEROBATICS
by Simon Van Leeuwen
HIGH ALPHA, SLOW
INVERTED KNIFE-EDGE:
Inverted, 45 positive fuselage attitude, 45( roll attitude, power used for altitude
control (large rudder volume & throw goes without saying). The A/C
utilizes the higher pressure air funneled along the left side of the fuselage
and the adjacent wing area to reliably maintain lift, therefore slower forward
velocity is possible.
DESCENDING KNIFE-EDGE:
From altitude, reduce power to idle & roll to knife-edge, hold nose slightly high, A/C will rapidly slide to earth, recover at safe altitude
ELEVATOR:
Slow to level stall---as stall occurs initiate aileron reflex---add power to deep-stall---control vertical descent path with elevator/throttle. Depending on A/C, aileron deflection must exceed 45.
HELICOPTER:
Straight, level, medium velocity---idle down, pull vertical---aircraft reaches vertical & zero velocity simultaneously---at this point apply power to hover---modulate attitude with elevator/rudder---initiate left (or right!) rotation---descend---then ascend
NO PULSE:
Full power, very short, level take-off---idle down, pull vertical---at zero velocity initiate rolling hover,OR, hold hover and slide A/C sideways (for hover use lots of throttle). At 10-15ft off the ground directly after take-off, it will get your attention.
TOPHAT:
Achieve hover---using rudder move A/C around 10-15ft circle maintaining 'wheels in' or 'canopy in' orientation
SUKHOI'S HUMPTY BUMP:
3 vertical rolls on the upline---a 1/2 inside loop at the top, and 2 1/2 inside snap rolls on the down line
UNTITLED:
After a full vertical roll break into an outside snap roll, which is maintained as the airplane runs out of vertical energy, flips end over end and transitions into an outside spin, recover on a clean down line
LOMCOVAK:
A Lomcovak is considered successful if the empanage of the A/C breaks the forward plane of trajectory.
A) 45 upline, roll inverted, immediately initiate an outside snap. At the apex airspeed is zero and the combined rotational forces from the snap, torque from the engine and full forward elevator flip A/C end over end in a forward pitch tumble. Recovery is immediate after 2nd tumble
B) 45 upline, roll left to knife edge. Full right aileron, rudder and down elevator
C) 45 upline, positive snap left till inverted, then immediately apply full down elevator while maintaining previous control inputs. A Lomcovak is considered successful if the empanage of the A/C breaks the forward plane of trajectory.
TUNNEL VISION:
Achieve hover. Using computer programming, initiate aileron reflex (crow) with complimentary elevator and 'move' in the horizontal direction (towards landing gear) while maintaining altitude. Could also stop and reverse, and move towards canopy
WATERFALL:
Achieve hover. apply more power and full down elevator. The idea is to make the A/C pitch forward (tumble) and again achieve a hovering stance while not losing or gaining altitude. This may benefit from elev>flap mixing with throws meeting or exceeding 45. Be prepared to apply right rudder and/or aileron to control yaw and roll from gyroscopic force working to roll and yaw left.
CLOTHESLINE:
Knife-edge in one direction, go full deflection (rudder) and reverse direction while maintaining knife edge. Fly back in direction whence you came
SIDEWAYS SHUFFLE:
While low to one side (say, right) apply up elevator, left rudder, and enough right aileron to create a high alpha, sliding, and approximately 40 bank. You will be flying half off the fuse and the rest off the wing. Not as effective as inverted maneuver
DELAYED ROLLING SNAP:
On a rolling down-line (slight) initiate elevator prematurely, then apply a lesser degree of snap inputs. Reflexing both ailerons prolongs a deeper stall before torqueing off. Initiation from positive with smoke on can really envelope the A/C and hide it!
KNIFE-EDGE SPIN:
Initiate stall, then apply full left aileron, rudder and full down elevator. Speed of rotation can be varied with power
SHOCK ABSORBER:
With smoke on, pull vertical, climb to an altitude, power off, as the A/C is about to stop, temporarily apply power and push to upright. Immediately pull off power and initiate left flat spin w/full power and smoke. The idea is to spin down the exact same line you went up. The more displacement from the vertical line the uglier it gets. Option: try tailslide into positive flat spin. Remember to remain in the vertical long enough to have a nice long spinning descent.
THE SIMONIZER:
Take-off to 45---1/4 loop---1/4 roll to knife-edge (canopy to pilot)---outside 360 knife-edge circle.