(Dave Russell) wrote in message . com...
My latest endeavor has been to learn to snap-roll the Super D. A
couple of training flights in an Extra 300 proved that I could learn
to fly them, but transferring that experience to the Decathlon has
been humbling. (As an aside, I *strongly* suggest you do not go fly
an Extra 300 when you own a Decathlon. I *love* the Super D and all,
but Holy Cow, Batman! The Extra is simply an astonishing machine.)

Anyway, my snap rolls suck. The break is mushy, the rotation is
sloppy, my exits are horrible. The rotation is slow enough that I
actually can 'think' while it goes around, but I haven't been able to
get any meaningful acceleration with forward stick.

Any Decathlon instructors wanna gimme a few tips? (And *please* don't
tell me to just trade up to an Extra... poking fun at an addict in
withdrawl is cruel and mean.)

Dave Russell


Hi Dave,

It's probably way easier for me to show you how to do them than to try
to explain them here. In the end, it has to do with timing. That and
the fact that you need not (better not) bury the elevator control full
aft.

Here's what I suggest you try in your airplane:

Establish level slow flight at 85 mph. Leave the power alone
thereafter. Mentally give yourself a countdown -- 3, 2, 1 -- at 1,
smoothly but briskly apply full rudder as you would for any spin
entry. When you sense that the rudder is passing though 3/4 of its
full travel, "flick" the elevator aft just far enough to induce the
stall. At 85 mph, that'll be about a 2 to 2-1/2 G tug on the stick.
You want to generate that G with as little stick movement as possible.

As soon as the airplane snaps, release a touch of the aft elevator.
Wait until nearly upright, then apply full opposite rudder followed by
rudder neutral. In the Decathlon, you will also likely need full
opposite aileron to keep that long, thick wing from over rotating
during recovery. The elevator doesn't really need to move at all
during recovery if done properly.

Also, the Europeans use better terminology for the maneuver, calling
it a "Flick Roll" -- which really is pretty close to how you should
move the elevator. I liken the elevator movement to casting a fishing
line: flick your wrist rather than yanking the pole with your entire
arm/shoulder.

Again, I could show you in less than 30 minutes, but you insist on
going to AZ to fly those darned Extras ; )

Rich
http://www.richstowell.com