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Previous Questions:
Barrel Roll:
Questions answered by Gordon Penner, CFI and IAC34
President
Question: I just want to fly
aerobatics for fun. What can you tell me about
flying the Barrel Roll?
Barrel Roll
The Barrel Roll, together with the Bob Hoover-type coordinated aileron
roll, is not a competition figure so there is no judging criteria. It has more
than one way to be accomplished. But they are both easily performed by
recreational aerobatic pilots and their airplanes, are a lot of fun, and are
not too hard on the body or a passenger.
In its essence the Barrel Roll can be thought of one of two ways; it is a
coordinated aileron roll with a loop attached, or it a loop that is
intentionally pulled off heading. I started teaching it the first way, but I
have been having more success with students with the second way of thinking.
Either way is fine, but visualizing the maneuver takes the pilot a long way
toward doing the maneuver successfully. Here are some important points.
Angle Off. Before the maneuver is started the heading off to the side,
or Angle-Off, from the beginning flight path must chosen. Some books give an
Angle-Off between 20 to 45 degrees off heading, but in Better Aerobatics
author and British Champion Alan Cassidy likes between 60 to 90 degrees. So do
I. 60 degrees Angle-Off is 10 o’clock to the left or 2 o’clock to the right
from the beginning heading. Since students already know how to do a loop this
higher degree of Angle-Off makes the maneuver more loop-like and makes the
rolling part of the maneuver easier. Otherwise people don’t know how fast or
slow to roll.
Inverted Halfway Point. This is one of the main keys to success.
Whatever Angle-Off is selected, have the nose on that heading with the wings
level inverted when half way through the maneuver. In pitch the nose should be
at the inverted level nose position. Don’t use full aileron. Use just enough
aileron to meet this inverted-wings level half way point.
Coordination. The airplane must be coordinated throughout the maneuver.
Begin with minimum looping speed or higher. Pull 2 to 3.5 G’s. When half
way to the Angle-Off heading the pitch should be at half of the angle-off
amount, so pull enough G to meet this target. In other words, if 60 degrees is
the desired Angle-Off then the nose should 30 degrees above the horizon when
heading has changed 30 degrees (1/2) toward the Angle-Off heading. Bank angle
at this point should be approximately 90 degrees.
Ease off the back stick pressure over the top just as in a regular loop.
Float over the top at somewhere around .5 G. As the speed changes throughout
the first half of the loop adjust the aileron control as necessary to meet the
inverted half way point with wings level. Don’t just freeze the aileron
control or the roll rate will change as the speed changes.
Just like a loop make the second half mirror the first half and you should
finish on beginning heading and beginning altitude. Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER:
The information on this web site
is not to be construed as flight instruction, or considered in any way
to be used in lieu of, actual training from an FAA certified instructor. The
information presented
on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute
flight instruction.
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