Improve your flying skills
Adapted from The Senior Pattern Association (website). Be sure to check them out for more information on pattern flying. Here is some information mirrored from their site in alphabetical order. Instructions for proper execution for each maneuver is below the each image.
Cobra with full rolls
COBRA ROLL From upright straight and level flight, the plane pulls up into a 45 degree climb, performs on complete roll at a moderate rate, continues the 45 degree climb for a moment, goes over the top in what amounts to one-fourth of an outside loop and heads down at a 45 degree angle. Another complete roll, equal in length and time to the first, is performed, and finally, the plane pulls out at the same altitude and heading as the beginning.
Double Immelmann
DOUBLE IMMELMANN Model commences in straight and level flight, pulls into half an inside loop followed by a half roll to upright, does approximately 1 second of level flight followed by 1/2 outside loop, then followed by a half roll to upright, recovering in straight and level flight on the same heading and at the same altitude as the entry.
Double Stall Turn
DOUBLE STALL TURN Model pulls up into one-quarter (1/4) loop to a vertical track then performs a stall turn through 180 degrees. Model then performs one-half (1/2) loop to a vertical track and performs another stall turn then recovers with another one-quarter (1/4) loop to level flight
Eight Point Roll
EIGHT POINT ROLL Model starts in level flight then rolls one complete rotation hesitating at each 1/8 revolution. Each 1/8 roll to be forty-five degrees at each hesitation. The wing will be parallel with 45 or 90 degrees to the horizon. Model recovers on same heading and altitude as entry..
Figure M
FIGURE M The model starts in straight and level flight, pulls up into a vertical attitude, performs a half roll then a stall turn through 180 degrees followed by a second half roll. The model then makes half an inverted loop pushing up again to vertical flight, performs a third half roll, a second stall turn, a fourth half roll and recovers on the same altitude and heading as the entry.
Four Point Roll
FOUR POINT ROLL From a straight and level flight path, the model is rolled 90 degrees and holds this attitude, with the wings in a vertical position, long enough for it to be clearly defined. The model is then rolled another 90 degrees, in the same direction of rotation and holds the inverted attitude long enough for it to be clearly defined. This is followed by another 90 degree roll in the same direction, bringing the ship to another knife edge position. Following a similar pause in the roll, the ship finally rolls another 90 degrees to upright and level flight.
Half Reverse Cuban Eight
HALF REVERSE CUBAN EIGHT Model pulls up and executes one-eighth (1/8) inside loop to 45 degrees, hesitates, does one-half (1/2) roll, hesitates, then performs five-eighths (5/8) inside loop back to level flight in opposite direction as entry.
Immelman Turn
IMMELMAN TURN The model starts the Immelman flying straight and level, pulls up into half loop followed by a half roll and finishes flying straight and level exactly 180 degrees from the heading at entry.
Inverted Reverse Cuban Eight
INVERTED REVERSE CUBAN EIGHT The plane enters this maneuver in straight and level inverted flight, pushes up into a 45 degree climb, half rolls to upright and proceeds to outside loop until it is again climbing at a 45 degree angle. The plane then performs another half roll to upright flight that should cross the flight path of the first roll, then again proceeds to outside loop until it has reached straight and level inverted flight on the same heading and at the same altitude as the beginning.
Inverted Three Spin Turn
INVERTED THREE TURN SPIN The plane establishes a heading by flying inverted straight and level, pushes up into a stall and commences the spin through three complete turns, then recovers to inverted level flight on the original heading. Judges must watch carefully to make sure plane is not in an inverted spiral dive or vertical roll.
Landing
LANDING PERFECTION When the contestant has his plane lined up and on heading for the final approach, and not less than six (6) feet off the ground, he must announce the start of the Landing maneuver.
180 Degree Turn
180 DEGREE TURN The plane starts in straight and level flight, pulls up into a vertical climb, rolls 90 degrees, performs half of an outside loop, rolls 90 degrees in the opposite direction to the first quarter roll and pulls out at the same altitude but with a 180 degree heading change.
One Horizontal Roll
ONE HORIZONTAL ROLL Model rolls at a uniform rate through one (1) complete revolution in either direction. Center is inverted portion of maneuver.
One Reverse Outside Roll
1 REVERSE OUTSIDE LOOP Model half rolls to inverted, pauses for greater than one (1) second and pushes up to execute an outside loop, pauses for greater than one (1) second then half rolls to level flight.
Procedure Turn
STRAIGHT FLIGHT OUT The model must be brought exactly over the center of runway and/or landing circle and flown in an absolutely straight path into the wind for a distance of approximately 300 feet before starting the Procedure Turn
Reverse Cuban Eight
REVERSE CUBAN EIGHT Plane commences in straight and level flight, pulls up into a 45 degree climb, half rolls to inverted and proceeds to inside loop until it is again climbing at a 45 degree angle. Plane then does another half roll to inverted that should cross the flight path of the first half roll, then again proceeds to inside loop until it has reached straight and level flight on the same heading and altitude as the beginning.
Rolling Eight
ROLLING EIGHT The model starts from a straight and level flight and pulls up into an inside loop. At the bottom of this inside loop the model rolls right or left to the inverted position and performs a second inside loop directly below the first one. At the end of this second inside loop the model rolls from the inverted position to the upright position and flies straight and level to complete the maneuver.
Running Eight
RUNNING EIGHT Model starts in level flight and completes 1-1/4 outside loops finishing at intersection. Model the does 1-1/4 inside loops finishing at bottom of second loop, the model passing the intersection 3 times. Model then recovers on the same heading although at a lower altitude than entry.
Slow Roll
SLOW ROLL Model commences from straight and level flight and the rolls slowly at a uniform rate through one complete rotation. The approximate time of the roll to be five seconds. Note: No downgrade for slight overtime.
Strait Inverted Flight
SHORT INVERTED FLIGHT Model performs one-half (1/2) roll to inverted and flies straight and level inverted for a minimum of five (5) seconds, then performs one-half (1/2) roll back to level flight. Half rolls may be in either direction.
Takeoff
TAKEOFF The model must start from a standstill. Model shall accelerate gradually and the takeoff run shall be in a straight line. Plane shall lift off gently and climb at a gradual angle, continuing in its straight flight path until at least six feet off the ground. Pilot shall call “Takeoff (or maneuver) complete” when model has gained at least six feet of altitude and is still climbing in a straight flight path.
Three Horizontal Roll
THREE AXIAL ROLLS The model enters from a straight and level flight and rolls on its axis to the right or left until three complete rolls are performed. The recovery must be on the same heading and altitude as the entry.
Three Inside Loops
THREE INSIDE LOOPS The model starts the maneuver flying straight and level, then pulls up into a smooth, round loop, followed by a second loop, and a third loop in exactly the same path with a straight and level recovery finish.
Three Turn Spin
THREE TURN SPIN The plane establishes a heading by flying straight and level, pulls up into a stall and commences the spin through one, two, three turns and recovers to level flight on the same heading as the initial flight direction. The judge must watch carefully to be sure this is a spin and not a vertical roll or spiral dive in the spin, some part of the plane always intersects an imaginary vertical line along the path of descent. In the spiral dive, the plane circles round, but outside of, the imaginary vertical line.
Top Hat
Model starts in straight level flight, pulls up into vertical limb and makes a half roll, then levels out inverted on the same heading as entry. After short inverted flight, model dives vertically, performs a half roll and finally recovers in straight level upright flight on same heading and height as entry.
