Slow rolls many of which
include hesitations - are sometimes called aileron rolls to
distinguish them from flick or snap rolls. In a slow roll the
rotation is primarily driven by aileron action, whereas a flick
roll combines yaw and pitch inputs to cause 'auto-rotation'.
Key points:
The start and finish of each
element of a roll should be crisp, and each hesitation must be
at the correct angle of roll (with the usual 1 point per 5°
error deductions).
The rhythm and the rate of roll
must be consistent throughout and between any hesitation
elements.
The CGT during and after a
horizontal roll should be exactly in line with the CGT before
it.
Many variations of slow rolls are used in
a great variety of figures, often preceded and followed by lines
which must be judged for CGT (where horizontal) or ZLA (where at
45° or in the vertical) and also for comparative length. Height
gain or loss during horizontal rolls and barrelling around any
angle of line are obvious errors. If the wrong type of roll is
seen (a hesitation is missed or added etc.) then the whole
figure is wrong, and it must be awarded a (hard) zero mark.
Judging criteria:
The rate of roll must be constant
The roll must be in a constant
plane (axial)
Must be no change in direction of
flight
Accurate angle stops between
elements
Maintain axis in level, 45° or
vertical flight
What is not judged:
The speed of roll, although in a
point roll every element must be at the same rate between
hesitations
Practical tips:
Check heading at the start and
end of the roll
Check that the aeroplane does not
climb or descend
Look carefully at the end of the
roll to make sure that the aeroplane is not crabbed off axis
