Maintaining wings level...

[tele1974]

An IMAC training thread COOL! I have been flying three or so years. Currently I am attempting to strengthen my skill via beginning to learn precision aerobatics. When I am out I find myself continuing to bang away at 3d and sort of lost interest reacting to the plane. I purchased Dave Scotts precision aerobatics books and all I can say is they are great. Thats all I will say about that...

Anyway, my first major challenge in beginning to fly precision is just keeping the wings level. When I learned that this was the single most important aspect of flying precision I thought great no problem. Well it is much harder than I expected. I went to the field yesterday to practice cubans and reverse cubans and boy did I leave frustrated. Well I left with a renewed sense of how much work I still need to do.

Problem: The was a 5-10 mph cross wind in my face yesterday. I thought no biggie... rolling harrier is nice into the wind. I'm not it the big airframes yet. I fly a 25% Extra 260. So, with a cross wind up to 10 mphs my plane crabs into the wind. No problem yet. Now... the reverse cuban. I pull into the 45 degree up line and the plane is crabing and tending to want to roll the plane. Plus, my plane is a bit under powered so it actually seemed to need rudder correction away from the wind instead of into the wind as the airspeed decreased. Then the roll to inverted. I would release rudder roll to inverted and watch...again rudder away from the wind. Wings level... No clue most of the time they were not. I could tell that because of the result of the heading of the plane after pulling through the loop. I wasn't pretty. I went home and attempted to set up the same scenario. I used the 160 Extra set up a 8 mph cross wind a attempted the same maneuver and had the same difficulties.
Your help would be much appreciated.

[jmoesdad]

im sure you'll get better info then mine but when your flying in a cross wind say from your right to left and your flying left to right your holding right rudder to keep your track straight. when you pull into a vertical maneuver, the plane will weather vane into the wind so you will have to let off the right rudder you had when level and adjust to keep your track vertical.
i got some advice from ty lyman to practice flying a square vertical box and then square figure 8's. it forces you to work the rudder in every attitude until it becomes second nature. (it still isnt for me yet) ive started doing this at new sites to get a feel for the area before the contests starts.

[sweetpea]

I know alot of guys use the SIM or tie string up in the garage and hang wooden models of their planes. You need to see what wings level looks like at that angle. These 2 methods you can have the plane in the position you think it is wings level. Basically "pause" and then go right upto the plane and look at it to see. Until you know what it is you will only be guessing. Also if you have an experienced flyer around that can call for you and tell you the same thing.

[louu]

if you want to get serious about imac, find the imac rep in your area (i think you cand get tthat info on their site) and you can meet up with them at a field and they will help you out with everything. there also members of FG. good luck, keep us updated.

[tele1974]

Thanks... lots of great recommendations. I emailed David Scott and he said I am trying to move forward too quickly with my training. And that I should be consintrating on my loop symmetry only and when my looping is perfect then to move onto the rudder.