| Loops and Part Loops |
| This area represents a major
change from judging practice up to the end of 2012 - from 2013
onwards the need to make strict comparisons between the radius /
size of 'corners' in figures is largely removed. Judges are now
required only to assess the smoothness of such corners, and the
smoothness and size of the pure looping segments in order to
arrive at a possible downgrade - with a few notable exceptions
as below. |
Definition
The loop is a figure from Family 7, but part-loops are
integral to every other family so it is necessary to discuss the
loop before going on to the other families. |
| By definition a loop must have a
constant radius. It starts and ends in a well-defined line
which, for a complete loop, will be horizontal. For a part-loop
however, such lines may be in any other plane of flight and will
be defined by the aircraft's attitude. As the speed changes
during execution of a loop or part-loop, the angular velocity
around the aircraft's lateral axis also has to change in order
to keep the radius constant. When the speed decreases, for
example, to half its initial rate, the angular velocity, to keep
the same radius, will be reduced by half - this is a fact of
physics. Thus, the angular velocity can be an aid for the Judge
to gauge the radius, especially when the angular velocity in the
higher part-loop is seen to be faster, as this is a clear
indication that the radius is smaller. This aid becomes more
important when two part-loops are separated by a line between. |
Aresti pictogram shapes
In the Aresti Aerobatic Catalogue, part-loops are depicted
either as round elements or as corner angles. It must be noted
that any corner angle drawn in the pictograms is always to be
flown as a part-loop and must have a smooth, distinct and
constant radius. |
"Round corners"
For any one figure having more than one internal part-loop depicted
in the catalogue as round elements, all such part-loops shall
have the same radius with exception for all of
Family 8.8 figures (double humpty bumps) for which the radius of
the second half-loop is not required to match the radius of the
first one. |
"Corner angles"
For any one figure having more than one internal part-loop depicted
in the catalogue as corner angles, all such part-loops may have
different radii, and none of them is required to
match the radius of any part-loop depicted as a round element in
the same figure with the exception of: |
|
|
Family 3
(combinations of lines) and -
Family 3 : 7.4.3.x to 7.4.6.x (whole / hesitation loops) |
| These
figures must all keep a regular geometrical shape, and therefore
their part-loops are all required to have the same radius. |
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| Note that the above guide only
shows some of the affected figures - the principle
however is general. |
