The gracious barrel roll − a graceful and comfortable manoeuvre
In the hands of a good pilot, the barrel roll is one of the nicest and most comfortable aerobatic manoeuvres to ride through. It can be flown very smoothly and perfectly balanced from beginning to end. You sit comfortably in the centre of your seat and watch the world roll slowly around you. It’s also flown with far less gthan for a loop, with about 2.5gbeing the normal amount required. Different versions There are many different versions of the barrel roll, and a vast number of opinions on how one should be executed. I’ve flown with pilots from all over the world,
The Stall Turn
The stall turn is a spectacular manoeuvre to behold and it’s very useful for the aerobatic pilot. It enables the direction of the aircraft to be changed through 180° within a limited amount of airspace and without forfeiting much energy. Gyroscopic precession and slipstream effect must be understood The stall turn is a manoeuvre that requires a very good understanding of the gyroscopic precession caused by a rotating propeller when elevator and rudder inputs are made. The pilot should also have a full understanding of the effect that the helical flow of slipstream from a propeller has on the directional path of
Flying formation – a five-foot world
Putting a formation aerobatic team together is easier said than done! Getting a couple of guys or gals together to operate as a slick, safe unit comes with its challenges. Each pilot has his or her strengths and weaknesses, as well as preferences for where they’d like to fly in the formation. And then there are the personalities! Getting on is paramount! You’re going to be spending a lot of time together in the air and on the ground, so you want to enjoy each other’s company. Leading a formation is a huge responsibility; the bigger the formation, the bigger the responsibility.
Flying a competition sequence – diving into the aerobatics box
These aircraft are designed to be flown in the way I describe here. In fact, their great strength, controllability and power combine to enable this type of flight. It’s fair to say that it is the progress in aircraft technology that has ushered in this new, more precise and yes, more violent style of aerobatics.
For the love of inverted flight
We’ve been doing a lot of inverted flying in formation recently. The goal is to explore different formations and manoeuvres with various aircraft to incorporate into our airshow routine. It was not love at first flight When I started flying aerobatics 30 years ago, I found inverted flight very uncomfortable. You hang in your straps, are pushed out of your seat, and blood rushes to your head. It feels as though your eyes are going to pop out, after which you’ll be ejected from the cockpit and fall to your death. Back then I quickly realised that flying inverted was going to
Smoky Simon – Flight of the Century
What better way to celebrate your 100th birthday than to take to the skies in a Tigermoth as Smoky Simon did? This video brought a smile to our faces, and no doubt it will to yours too. Scroll down further to see another video as Smoky discusses the role of volunteer pilots in Israel’s war of Independence. He’s certainly led a fascinating and inspiring life and we salute him. In this video shared on his son Saul Simon’s YouTube channel, Smoky talks about the role of of volunteers in Israel’s war of Independence.
Flying a competition sequence, a pilot’s perspective. Part 1 – getting airborne
You quickly remind yourself of a golden rule in competition aerobatics – forget about the other guy. The competition is always with yourself. You are striving for perfection. You will never achieve it, but you just have to be better than you were last time.
The Dance – mental preparation for aerobatics
Anyone who’s been to an airshow or aerobatic competition, may have seen participating pilots do what is called “the dance” before strapping into their airplane. There are several objectives when mentally preparing for a flight. The first is to ensure that you know the sequence perfectly. A pilot needs to be able to rattle off all the figures very quickly without a second’s hesitation. If you can’t get it right on the ground, there’s little chance you’ll know what to do in the air.
Master the tailslide
A good tailslide begins with as much speed as possible and the aircraft pitched as close to a perfect vertical as you can get it. Achieve this with a sight gauge or by looking at the angle between the wing tip and the horizon.
Playing for Keeps
In the mid 80’s the late Peter Celliers organized a “World Masters Aerobatic Competition” that was hosted at the La Mercy Airfield on the Kwazulu Natal Coast of South Africa. He invited some of the best competition
The Rules of the Game
There are intriguing topics about aerobatics that I believe will interest Smoke-On-Go readers. For example, designing sequences that create high scoring illusions, or discussing the mysteries of mental
All About Smoke Systems
Aerobatic displays, be they solo, synchronised, or in formation, are usually the highlight of any airshow. The thick plumes of white smoke that trail behind the aircraft as they fly through their display routines
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