Hammerhead

Authored by Dan Knippen

Last month we discussed the Loop which is the first maneuver in the Basic 2004 sequence. I hope by now some of you have had time too get out and fly this not so easy maneuver.

Because the Basic class has some good beginner’s maneuvers, I’ve decided to cover the rest of the 2004 Basic sequences and maneuvers starting with #2 the hammerhead. Then I will relate to you the same maneuver in one of the different classes. We have allot too cover so I’ll get right to it.

I’m sorry I don’t have the capability to show you the Aresti for each maneuver, but you can download and print them from the IMAC web site at www.mini­iac.com and I will bring some to the meetings as well.

The second maneuver is a Hammerhead. As we complete the first maneuver the Loop, we are upright, LEVEL and flying from left to right. If your line is off now is the time for Mr. Rudder to straighten you out. Remember, if you use your ailerons to line up for every ten degrees you bank it will be a downgrade of one point. As with ever maneuver there is about three to four seconds before starting the next one. Don’t forget throttle management here. By that I mean you don’t have to fly the entire sequence at full throttle. It’s hard to judge and will not present your flight very well. Cut that throttle between your maneuvers and get your plane and thoughts in order. Now as you make your approach to do your hammerhead you can now advance the throttle to full and gradually pull to vertical. Once again you will need to apply rudder to keep your plane on a straight vertical line. As the plane reaches zero airspeed reduce power to idle, use full left or right rudder. “As a rule it’s best to hammer into the wind”. The ideal pivot point is the canopy, but most of our planes can do a tight pivot at the wing tip and receive no deductions. For every wing span more there will be a one­point deduction. If you should fly the plane through the hammer without chopping throttle you will do a fly over and you will receive a zero for that maneuver. There will not receive a deduction for any wind drift during the stalled part of the hammerhead. To avoid any wobble after the hammer, hang on a little rudder. You’re now on the downline and again wind correction must be obtained by using that rudder. You want your upright exit radius the same as your entry radius. You’re now ready to enter the third maneuver. Note: If you look at #9 of the Intermediate class, you will see the same hammerhead with a two­point roll on the upline, ¾ roll on the down line. When you get confident you can try other variations for all these maneuvers.

You are now flying from right to left and setting up for the third maneuver, which will be a Humpty bump with a half roll on the downline. The maneuver reads. Humpty Bump: Pull to vertical upline, pull ½ inside loop. ½ roll on downline, pull exit upright. The principle for this maneuver is pretty much the same as the hammerhead. At the top of the humpty you will have to pull a half loop. There are no criteria on how big or small the ½ loop should be as long as the radius is the same. If necessary wind correct on your downline and the ½ roll should be preformed half way between the ½ loop and your exit radius at the bottom. You will now be heading left to right. The same Humpty Bump but more difficult is # 6 in Unlimited or #5 in Sportsman.

The maneuvers are starting to get a little more difficult now and #4 will be a ½ reverse Cuban with a half roll on the 45 degree upline , 5/8 inside loop, exit upright. This maneuver will be preformed to the right of center. As before we need to set up for our next maneuver if you want to present it well. This is a fairly hard maneuver only because you are flying your 45­degree upline to right of center. Even if the 45 line is perfect it will look more like 35 or 40 degrees because it is going away from you. This is not easy to judge either. You need to practice this with a second set of eyes.

Ok, we pull to a 45 degree upline , wind correction may be necessary to keep you from blowing in or out. The ½ roll will be done in the center from when you started the 45 and where you begin the 5/8 loop. When you do the ½ roll you will need to apply a little down elevator to maintain the 45degree line. The 5/8 loop does not have to exit at the same altitude as when you entered. Another example of a ½ reverse Cuban is #10 of the advanced sequence. Very difficult and very busy with a K­factor of 52. The only thing higher than that is the Rolling circle in Unlimited.

The last maneuver for this month will be #5. One roll. For this one you will now be heading from right to left. Before you begin this maneuver wings should be level and your flying on a straight line. Of course rudder correct to get your plane horizontally on line before starting this maneuver. As you get to the halfway point of the maneuver you will do one axial roll. Ailerons should be set up for about a two second roll, and as your plane gets to inverted apply a touch of down elevator and release it after the plane goes beyond inverted. This helps keep the nose up and the plane on line. You want to finish the ½ roll perfectly level to score well. Again for every 10 degrees over or under rotation you will be down graded 1 point. 90 Degrees over or under as well as stopping during the roll will get you a zero for that maneuver. #7 in Sportsman is the same maneuver except the broken lines indicates their one roll maneuver starts and finishes inverted.

Next month we will complete the rest of the Basic sequence and maneuvers. Until then you will have plenty to practice with. At first don’t try to fly the sequence until you’ve gone and flown the maneuvers over and over and are comfortable with them I also recommend flying the maneuvers in both directions this will make you an ever better pilot

CRCM