On Sun, 07 Nov 2004 06:13:43 -0500, Cub Driver
wrote:

He wants to know why his pilot can't simply do rolls around the
plane's longitudinal axis.

Perhaps it would help to know what inputs are necessary to make such a
roll? If you are rolling to your left, do you apply right rudder?

It depends on the aircraft you're flying. I imagine jets
require very little "top rudder" to do an axial roll. Some
of the hot aerobatic planes scarcely allow time for
rudder input, I imagine.

Here's the sequence I learned for a slow, axial roll:

Input aileron. Hold it through the maneuver for a
steady roll rate.

Input "top rudder" as the plane reaches knife-edge.
If rolling to the left, right rudder will be on top first.

Back to neutral on rudder as the plane goes
inverted. Push on the stick to maintain level
flight upside-down.

Release the pressure on the elevator.

Input top rudder as the plane reaches knife-edge.
In the example of rolling to the left, this will now
be left rudder.

Release the pressure on the rudder as the
plane rolls upright.

Apply any necessary backpressure to maintain
level flight.

This is so much easier to do than it is to explain
in writing.

To do a rolling circle, add in appropriate inputs
toward the center of the circle as needed. To
do the rolls in a straight line, be careful to get
the inputs in at the right time.

Marty