markmo@tekig4.UUCP (Mark Morland) (10/10/85)
I've been getting better with snap rolls in the WACO, but I'm not perfectly happy with my recoveries. For those unfamiliar, a snap is a "horizontal" spin induced by full aft stick and full rudder during a slow cruise. The maneuver is all positive G, and quite pleasant when done smoothly. My typical mistake is to initiate the recovery too late, and roll about 420 degrees instead of 360. On my better performances, I've initiated the recovery just after passing the upside down point. The problem I have then is maintaining coordination after full opposite rudder is no longer required. If I come out level, seems like I'm usually skidding one way or the other. Anybody got suggestions? Loops are always fun - I'm going to give my mother the experience sometime soon (she doesn't know it yet). I practise at altitude, only a few miles from the home base, so it works well to do a couple of loops and wingovers to descend on the way home. More biplane stories: When giving my first passenger ride in the WACO, a Stearman followed me out of the pattern and rode a loose formation for a while. I'd never done any formation flying, so when he got bored with my straight and level he peeled off in the prettiest wingover you ever saw. They look nice from the ground, but they're much better from the air. On the way to the practise area tonight, a Pitts paced me about 150 yards off my wing. When I spotted him I rocked my wings +/- 30 degrees, and he acknowedged with a +/- 80 degree rock. Guess who was rocking at the higher frequency! I looked forward briefly, and when I saw the Pitts again he was inverted! He paced me for about 30 seconds like that - I'm jealous! See Y'all upside down, Mark Morland tektronix!tekig4!markmo