The Stall Turn is one of the most
graceful aerobatic figures. When flown well it is beautiful to
watch. The figure can be divided into a series of sections for
judging:
The entry and pull
to vertical:
Is the entry from
truly level flight?
Note the radius of
the entry.
Is the vertical hit
correctly?
Is the aeroplane on
axis at all times?
The vertical up
line:
Does the line stay
vertical?
Does the aeroplane
stay on axis?
It is common for the aeroplane
to roll on the up-line, especially towards the top
The turn itself:
Is the centre of the
turn within one wing? Bridging must be downgraded.
Is the
turn in the correct plane?
Is the aeroplane
rolling at all during the turn (torquing)?
What is not
judged:
The rate of the turn - slow or
fast.
The lengths of the up and down
lines.
Practical Tips:
Look carefully to
see if the aeroplane is vertical before and after
the turn.
Check that the wing
trailing edges are parallel to the horizon when in the vertical
- ie. no yaw or wing-low.
Check that the
aeroplane does not fall back in pitch before the turn.
Look for roll
corrections after the turn has been completed.
Check the exit
radius, especially if the entry and exit are different (ie.
one's a pull, the other a push).
Next page:
Judging criteria explained, and the downgrades to apply.
