5/30/05

Tested my aerobatic skills this week!

I flew yesterday for the first time since the course and was able to put together a loop to a roll, a double roll, a 4 point roll to an 8 point, (trust the IMPUTS -- don't react to the isses on the points -- just adjust after the maneuver -- faster or slower on the inputs) to a reverse Cuban, back with a roll or snap roll, then a Cuban 8, a reverse Cuban 8 to an Immelman, to a spin, to a 1/2 Cuban or 1/2 reverse Cuban with a roll on the 45 or 1 1/2 rolls on the 45 to a reverse Cuban.

My only words for the "newbies" is set-up, set-up, set-up. Without a proper set up everything else goes bad. If you are not set up right then you are always reacting to the fact that the plane will not track right or come out of the maneuver prepared for the next one.

Controllers don't crash! Don't fight the plane. Put in the inputs. 1/2 up elevator for the loops and hold it -- if that is too much or too little correct on the next loop -- floating over the top really depends on the wind and the plane -- trust the input and repeat it. As for the Cubans, 1/2 up elevator and NAIL the 45. The crowning touch on the Cuban is the pause just before rolling on the down 45 and PAUSE after the roll before pulling out! If the set up was right -- no sweat entering the second half of the Cuban -- if the set up is wrong -- no way to do a good second half without a lot of REACTING to correct a bad position.

I did great with my Hanger 9 Extra 300S 1.6. The plane rolls so well that you don't need a lot of inputs, and inverted and level flight are easy when the inputs are put in correctly.

Have fun this week!

Jim Procrass. Beverly Hills, CA