RC Aerobatics
Eric Henderson, 303 Shady Ln., Marlton NJ 08053; E-mail: [email protected]
THERE HAS BEEN a very big change in AMA Precision Aerobatics: the schedules that will be flown in 2002 and beyond are brand, spanking new!
For many years the schedules were an adaptation of the pre-turnaround maneuvers and were often "patched" together with various updates. Once in awhile a whole routine would be changed, but it was definitely time for a more scientific approach to designing the combination of maneuvers in the schedules.
The primary intent of the new design is to have levels that, as the routines increase in difficulty, build on the skills developed in the previous schedule. New skills will be required to master more complex maneuvers, but the emphasis will remain on precision. The schedule change is so significant that this month's column is dedicated to its introduction.
The new classes are listed in order of difficulty. Some explanations are made as to the intent of each schedule. Some of the maneuvers are new. Included are some execution tips/hints that you might use.
For full details on the new schedules, you can obtain a 2002 rule book when it is released from AMA, or log onto the National Society of Radio Controlled Aerobatics Web site at nsraca.org for score sheets and maneuver descriptions.
Sportsman—401
- Takeoff (U) K=1
- Enter box
- Straight Flight Out (U) K=1
- Half Reverse Cuban Eight K=1
- Straight Flight Back (D) K=1
- Half Cuban Eight K=1
- Two (2) Inside Loops (U) K=2
- Exit box
- Two Point Roll (D) K=2
- Stall Turn K=1
- Cobra without Rolls (U) K=1
- Immelmann Turn (D) K=2
- One Horizontal Roll (D) K=1
- Split "S" K=1
- Double Immelmann without Rolls (U) K=2
Exit box
- Landing K=1
Note that (U) means upwind; (D) means downwind.
The "K" number is the degree of difficulty attached to that particular maneuver and is usually referred to as the K-Factor. The raw score 0-10 is multiplied by this K-Factor and is then added for a total score for the flight.
The Sportsman (or should we call it Sportsperson?) class introduces the basics of maneuver elements and positioning in two groups of maneuvers that will be used more extensively in the following classes. It also addresses the concern, voiced by many competitors, that the previous pattern was too short and too simple.
The other intent is to allow a pilot to gain the experience of flying in front of judges who are assessing his or her performance. Exposing yourself to this kind of pressure is best done when flying a schedule that is not too demanding.
Intermediate—402
- Takeoff K=1
- Enter Box
- Cuban 8 with ½ Rolls (U) K=2
- Stall Turn without Rolls K=2
- Two (2) Horizontal Rolls (D) K=2
- Humpty Bump with Options K=2
- Cobra Roll with Half Rolls Up and Down (U) K=2
- One-Half Cuban Eight K=2
- Non-Rolling Triangle Loop (D) K=2
- Half Square Loop with ½ Roll in Vertical K=2
- One Outside Loop from the Top (U) K=1
- Split "S" K=1
- Straight Inverted Flight (D) K=1
- Stall Turn with Full Roll Up K=2
- Square Loop (U) K=1
- One-Half Reverse Cuban Eight K=2
- Two Half Rolls in Opposite Directions, Pause in Center (D) K=2
Exit box
- Landing K=1
The Non-Rolling Triangle Loop is there to challenge the pilot to perform two 45° up- and down-lines and still hit the center. It looks simple until you try to nail it.
The Outside Loop from the Top will make you hold your breath at first and will soon let you know if you have a well-trimmed airplane.
Two Half Rolls in Opposite Directions with a pause in between each half is a good builder for later routines. It makes the pilot roll in both directions. Please remember that when you roll from inverted the rudder goes the same way as the aileron to keep the nose up.
The old three Horizontal Rolls are gone (do I hear distant cheering?); now there are only two. This is more in keeping with the maneuvers that the pilot will perform in later schedules.
Advanced—403
- Takeoff K=1
- Enter box
- Reverse Cuban Eight (U) K=3
- Stall Turn K=2
- Slow Roll (D) K=3
- Half Square Loop with 2 of 4 Point Rolls K=2
- Outside Square Loop from Top with ½ Rolls in 1st and 3rd Legs (U) K=4
- Bunt with Half Roll Out K=2
- Double Immelmann, Half Roll on Top, Full Roll on Bottom, Exit Inverted (D) K=3
- Outside Immelmann Turn, Exit Inverted K=2
- 45 Degree Down, One Negative Snap (U) K=4
- Top Hat with ¼ Rolls, Enter Inverted, Exit Upright K=2
- Triangle Rolling Loop, 2 of 4 Point Roll, Exit Inverted (D) K=2
- Push-Pull-Pull Humpy Bump K=2
- Avalanche, Upright (U) K=3
- Stall Turn with ½ Rolls K=2
- Four Point Roll (D) K=3
- Half Square Loop with ½ Roll in Vertical K=2
- 2½ Turn Spin, ½ Roll Out (U) K=2
Exit Box
- Landing K=1
The Advanced routine is full of new and more-demanding maneuvers that will take a little practice before pilots feel comfortable with them.
The Double Immelmann with a Half Roll after the first Half Loop starts out normally. Then after the second Half Loop, there is a full roll. No big deal, except that it will be an inverted roll at the bottom of a Half Loop. Practice this one a few mistakes high!
The 45 Degrees Down, One Negative Snap with the entry and exit inverted will "sort the men from the boys." Holding the 45° line inverted then doing a Negative Snap Roll will be a big challenge for many.
RC Aerobatics
The nickname for this routine is "Schedule F." In prior years Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) schedules were known by alphabetic codes such as A, B, etc. Recently the FAI schedules changed in design and difficulty. They used codes such as P for preliminary and F for finals.
The new Masters schedule was designed to provide a challenge to the top US pilots. It is a destination class for hundreds of fliers. It may also be a place where we develop new FAI pilots. No matter who flies the new schedule, it will be challenging.
The Stall Turn with 1½ rolls on the up line and a ¾ roll on the down line is a great place to enter your routine.
If you enter from the left, a roll to the right will let you see the canopy when you do the Stall Turn. Remember to roll right again on the down line to come out the right way up and in the right direction.
The Reverse Cuban 8 begins from the top and has 2 of 4 Point Rolls on the intersections. The 45° down-line has to be commenced before you reach the centerline. It takes a lot of estimating and practice to get the start position right. If you start too soon, you will be very low before you hit the centerline. If you start too late, the centerline is reached too soon and the maneuver will be too small.
The Full Roll into a Half Outside Loop requires you to carry enough speed to do a good axial roll but also makes you get off the gas before you go too far into the dive part of the half loop. It seemed easy when written, but proved tricky when flown.
The inverted four-point roll is pretty when done well. You need to keep the nose up in a regular four point, but the really easy elevator when in the upright point is to try to bump a bit too much up elevator when none is required.
The 45° down-line with a 1½ Positive Snap Roll ends with an inverted exit. It will be hard to maintain a true heading and keep a good track. This one needs tons of practice and an ounce of good luck.
The 4 of 8 Point Roll from Inverted will make you decide to either get it over with quickly or stretch it out to look "good." Stretching it too far will invite heading changes. It is half the length of a full eight point roll, so may be better to fly it medium to short.
All the maneuvers will present different challenges to different pilots. By the time we get to the 2002 AMA Nationals, the contestants will have figured them all out. All the R/C clubs have to do is train the judges to score them correctly.
The very best of luck to all of you who fly them. Practice and be victorious!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
