I'm new to this, my Citabria is the first plane I've had access to on a regular enough basis to learn aerobatics. Hopefully we'll hear from others that have either been exposed to more formal training or more stick time in departures from straight and level.
My approach was to start with spins since spins are what can happen when some of the other maneuvers get botched. For the Primary category, there is a 1 1/2 turn spin.
From a judge's perspective, the aircraft must clearly stall before beginning rotation into the spin, the spin must be stopped precisely at 180 degrees from the entrance heading, the vertical downline must be held momentarily to define the vertical line, and the exit must be to a horizontal level line.
The Citabria and Decathlon both share a common trait, the plane must be aggressively stalled at the last moment using the last bit of energy in order for it to fall into a tight spin. Any amount of mushing through the stall or no clean stall and it will nose over and yaw/roll into a spiraling descent.
For the exit, I've found full opposite rudder will stop the spin on heading and it takes only a bit of down elevator to establish a vertical downline but you should work to looking out your left window to set pitch using the wingtip and horizon. It took me a lot of spins before I could calmly point the plane straight down and then glance away from the ground rushing up at me to look at the wingtip! lol
A clean exit to a horizontal line will pull about 3 1/2 G's and the throttle should be pulled back as necessary to keep from over-revving the engine.
Keep in mind, too much forward stick in the recovery could cause the plane to pitch over into an inverted spin so learn the recovery with neutral stick and work your way up to a vertical exit with any down elevator pressure.
What did I leave out?
My approach was to start with spins since spins are what can happen when some of the other maneuvers get botched. For the Primary category, there is a 1 1/2 turn spin.
From a judge's perspective, the aircraft must clearly stall before beginning rotation into the spin, the spin must be stopped precisely at 180 degrees from the entrance heading, the vertical downline must be held momentarily to define the vertical line, and the exit must be to a horizontal level line.
The Citabria and Decathlon both share a common trait, the plane must be aggressively stalled at the last moment using the last bit of energy in order for it to fall into a tight spin. Any amount of mushing through the stall or no clean stall and it will nose over and yaw/roll into a spiraling descent.
For the exit, I've found full opposite rudder will stop the spin on heading and it takes only a bit of down elevator to establish a vertical downline but you should work to looking out your left window to set pitch using the wingtip and horizon. It took me a lot of spins before I could calmly point the plane straight down and then glance away from the ground rushing up at me to look at the wingtip! lol
A clean exit to a horizontal line will pull about 3 1/2 G's and the throttle should be pulled back as necessary to keep from over-revving the engine.
Keep in mind, too much forward stick in the recovery could cause the plane to pitch over into an inverted spin so learn the recovery with neutral stick and work your way up to a vertical exit with any down elevator pressure.
What did I leave out?
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