An explanation of the five figures:
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Fig 1 - The
Quarter Clover (down)
Strictly speaking the quarter clover is a glider
manoeuvre, along with the wing-over.
Look for - |
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A |
The first half of
the manoeuvre is identical to the first half of a loop and all
the same judging criteria apply. The second half more or less
represents half a Barrel Roll. The pilot must continue pitching
as for the loop but also roll the aircraft such that the
aircraft completes the figure straight and level having turned
through exactly 90°. The rolling element must be centred around
the 270° pitching point.
The pitch and roll should be smooth, variations marked down 1 mark for every obvious deviation. |
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B |
If the roll
is not centred around the 270° pitching point then
assess where this occurred (e.g. around the 300° point) and deduct 1
mark for each 5° error. Note that it is
incorrect to stop pitching at the 270° point,
quarter roll and then continue pitching – the
deduction for this would be at least 2 marks. |
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C |
Completing
the manoeuvre having turned more or less than 90° is an
error which must be marked down, as usual, by 1 mark for
every 5°. |
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D |
Note: As
many pilots, and indeed those who train pilots, will not
have tried to fly competition clovers, it may be that some
‘interesting’ variations are seen. Nevertheless the
above is what the pilot should be trying to achieve in
this figure. |
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Fig 2 - Half Cuban Eight
The Half Cuban combines both looping
and straight line sections. A 5/8ths loop is followed by a 45
degree down line.
Look for - |
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A |
Judge exactly the same aspects
here as for the loop paragraphs A to D. |
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B |
At 5/8 of the circle, with the
aeroplane at 45° nose-down inverted, the loop must stop at a
clearly recognisable point. |
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C |
A short straight line follows
with the ZLA (not CGT) at 45° to the horizontal. |
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D |
The half-roll should be brisk,
the flight path judged in CGT on the 45° descending line, to
finish erect with 45° ZLA again. |
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E |
A moderate degree of yaw or
pitching during the roll can be disregarded (CGT rules), but
'barrelling' or sinking away from the 45° projected line must be
penalised. |
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F |
The 45° line must be continued to
match the pre-roll line in length and ZLA. Line length before
and after rolls are easy to judge, and must be the same. |
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G |
The final 1/4 loop to horizontal
CGT should match the loop in radius. |
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H |
The exit can be lower (or higher)
than the entry, but must be in level CGT on the "A" axis. The
next figure starts immediately. |
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Fig 3 - Stall Turn (see 'Stall
Turns')
Look for - |
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A |
A
crisp 1/4 loop CGT pull to the vertical. |
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B |
Accuracy of the ZLA up-vertical line. |
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C |
The
turn-around without 'bridging' and free of yaw
and roll. |
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D |
Accuracy of the ZLA down-vertical line. |
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E |
A
crisp 1/4 loop CGT pull back to horizontal, the
radius matching the entry. The next figure
starts immediately. |
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Fig 4 - Erect positive loop (see '
Loops')
Look for - |
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A |
Level CGT start
on axis, no roll, no yaw. |
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B |
Mark the entry
point with your pencil. |
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C |
A clear start
point, ie. a positive transition from straight
to looping. |
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The Beginners 2008 power
sequence Form-B: |
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Forms A, B and
C:
Form-A (here
is
an Intermediate example of a Form-A) is used for
entering the judges' marks. Forms B and C
are mirror-images of one another with the
sequence diagram wind in different directions - the "B" Form has the wind
from the right, whilst the "C" Form
has the sequence reversed L-to-R for wind-left. |
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The official Wind:
In this sequence the aeroplane must
start on the "A" axis directly into the official
box wind. The wind direction is clearly shown on
the form. Some sequences start on the "B" axis,
in which case the actual direction taken is
chosen by the pilot to suit the circumstances. |
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Wing rocks:
The sequence should be preceded by the statutory
set of three wing rocks - see 'Wing
Rocks'. |
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Height minima:
For Beginners the minimum allowable altitude
before 'low penalties' apply is 1,500ft although
the pilot should always keep well above this
level to avoid potential questions arising in
the judges' head. Disqualification would result
at 1,000ft. |
Recording 'Lows':
If you feel that the pilot has flown below
1,500ft at any point in the sequence (ie.
between the wing-rocks) note at which point this
was, and it will be discussed after the sequence
is finished. Flying too low is taken very
seriously in competition aerobatics, and a pilot
will quickly be asked to stop and his
Proficiency Card reviewed if this occurs. |
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The Framing mark:
(see 'Framing')
For Beginners the K-factor for Framing is
10k. At the end of the sequence put your mark in
the framing box. |
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D |
Watch and
memorise the CGT in the 1st quarter - this is
your reference segment. |
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E |
Compare the 2nd,
3rd and 4th quarters against the 1st for size,
position of end point and radius. |
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F |
There should be
no yaw or roll throughout. |
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G |
The end of the
4th quarter should be exactly below the top, at
the start level. |
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H |
The exit point
should be easily noted, ie. the transition from
looping CGT back to straight horizontal CGT easy
to spot. |
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I |
The horizontal
line after the loop must be flat CGT without
roll or yaw. The moment it starts, shift your
attention to
judging figure-5. |
Fig 5 -
The Slow or Aileron Roll (see 'Rolls')
Look for - |
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A |
Level and
accurate cross-box CGT throughout. |
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B |
An even-rate
360° roll without any sink or 'barrelling' during the
rotation, onto the same CGT axis. |
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C |
Crisp start
and finish points to the roll, wings level. |
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