2007 Knowns

[tom wheeler]

Not to be smart or anything, but practice, practice, practice. Many people overlook the difficulty of looping figures. One of the biggest cause of errors in the loop is non-level wing entry, believe me I know. For me when flying this sequence, I come in at about half power, hope for wings level, push, go to full power with a bit of rudder correction for P factor, and as I get near the top of the (about were I want to start the snap) I back off the power a bit, pull hard of the elevator for the snap break, add rudder and ailerons, back off the elevator and hopefully let the aircraft float a radius through the rest of the loop with power off. I'm still working on it, but it is getting better, lucky for you its becoming summer and you will have plenty of time to pratice.
Tom

[excelpoint]

Thanks Tom thats basically the way i try it. Do you have any problems getting the radius ever side of the snap to be the same, Ive found that if you start the snap before the top of the loop you get an uneven radius before and after the snap therefore a downgrade. If I try and slow the rotation of the snap down I dont think it would score. You are right its all about the practice, just got to do lots of it.

[toprudder]

I was calling the 2007 Sportsman sequence for my son the other day. It was pretty windy (15-20 mph, from right-to-left) and it made the Fig 8 loop extremely difficult.

When I was flying pattern, loops were usually performed into the wind. Entering this loop downwind makes it extremely difficult to perform well unless the plane is way overpowered (which ours is not). Is the entry direction for this maneuver a mistake?

I'm not saying that the schedule should be intentionally made easy, I'm guess I'm saying that the direction of a manuever should not give a distinct advantage to higher performance planes, particularly in the lower classes. If this manuever were flown into the wind, it would still have all the same elements, it would just not require better than a 2:1 thrust-to-weight ratio just to make it look round.

Bob R.

[jvdii]

Tom,
I plan to move up from Basic 06 to Sportsman 07. I have flown the 07 Sportsman sequence many times on the simulator; it does a great job of pulling forward everything I learned from last year. Thank you for the information. It will get me started off on the right foot.

[Mithrandir]

IMHO... I like the sportsman sequence... but I woulda stuck a 4 point roll between
figures 6 and seven... seems like between the 1/2 cuban eight and the stall turn there is a long level straight line... some space there for another stunt.....

IMHO

[Judge]

Learn to walk first Grasshopper.

[excelpoint]

I think a nice long line is also a great learning tool in the lower classes. They start to relise that they need to start using the Rudder for wind corectted lines which is a great base for them as they step up in class. It also starts to get them thinking about positioning there manouvers in the box to try and minamize the long line but to also not make the sequence look rushed.

[Judge]

Just to be clear. There is no need for a great long line before the Hammerhead. The previous figure can be flown/placed such that you do not need to do one. Remember, you have started the Hammerhead the moment you got wings level from the previous figure. Too long a line gives the judges LOTS of time to find fault!!

[Shawn Berkheimer]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Mithrandir
	IMHO... I like the sportsman sequence... but I woulda stuck a 4 point roll between figures 6 and seven... seems like between the 1/2 cuban eight and the stall turn there is a long level straight line... some space there for another stunt..... IMHO

Trust me, you will be thankful for that pause during your first contest. This is where you will begin to breath again and loosen the grip on your TX so your fingers will receive the much needed bloodflow.

Shawn

[Mithrandir]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Shawn Berkheimer
	... Trust me, you will be thankful for that pause during your first contest. This is where you will begin to breath again and loosen the grip on your TX so your fingers will receive the much needed bloodflow. Shawn

then there should be a long line every 2 maneuvers!!!

You guys will just do anything to get me to fly a straight line for more then 25 feet!!!



(I still think there is room for a roll!! LOL)
But seriously... with the half cubie on the end, a short level flight would put the stall turn in the center...(Wouldn't it??)... is that considered awkward? and then that kinda crowds the position of the loop after the stall turn???
Just looking at the sequence, and visualizing it in my mind, it just seems like it there is space there.... I s'pose I made the error of forgetting that a long, straight, level flight is also a stunt and needs attention too....

My Bad.. I guess this weekend I will get a first hand notion of trying to put it in the right place at the right time....

[Judge]

Depends on how big you fly the 1/2 Cuban based Figure. Fly it large with a longer 45 line with a nice smooth large radius pull to exit and it can easily finish near the center or just before it. Plus you do not need to drive over the end of the Earth before pulling for the Hammerhead. That can actually be fairly tight and still not rush into the loop.

[Shawn Berkheimer]

Mith, what I would do is position the half cuban so that it ends at center. Fly level for maybe a 5 count and then start the hammer. I think it would be really good for your group of guys to get together with an experienced IMAC pilot and spend a few hours with him coaching and just answering questions. I would be up for it as long as we could do it reasonably close the the bay area.


Shawn