Constant Airspeed Climbs and Descents
Instrument Flight
Figure 10a: AILERON ROLL
WINGOVER
The wingover is a 180-degree reversal of the direction of flight through the vertical as well as the
horizontal plane. Perform it by combining a smooth climbing turn for 90 degrees and a smooth
descending turn for 90 degrees, recovering at approximately the same airspeed and altitude at which you
began the maneuver, but with a 180-degree heading change (Figure 10b). The wingover develops your
ability to control the aircraft smoothly in balanced flight through constantly changing attitudes and
airspeeds. Perform the maneuver in either direction in a series of two (in opposite directions) so that the
series is completed on the same heading at which the first wingover was started.
Procedures
Complete the prestall and aerobatic checklist prior to performing the wingover. Begin the maneuver at
300 KIAS, on altitude, with the power set to approximately 89 percent rpm, and on a reference heading.
Raise the nose smoothly, keeping the wings level, to approximately 20 degrees nose up attitude. As the
nose continues up, initiate a slow roll in the direction of the maneuver. The nose should scribe an arc
above the horizon, reaching a maximum pitch of 45 degrees at approximately 45 degrees of heading
change and 45 degrees AOB.
As the AOB continues to increase, start the nose smoothly downward toward the horizon.
After the 90 degrees of heading change, the nose passes through the horizon, with 90 degrees AOB and
an airspeed of approximately 150-170 KIAS. Reverse the roll and begin to decrease the AOB as the nose
falls through the horizon. The nose should scribe a similar arc below the horizon, reaching a maximum
pitch of 45 degrees nose down at approximately 135 degrees of heading change and 45 degrees AOB.
Roll out of the maneuver at a constant rate, increasing back stick pressure to control airspeed and
altitude. Upon completion of the maneuver, you should be in straight and level flight at 300 KIAS,
180 degrees from the original heading, and at approximately the same altitude as at the beginning of the
maneuver.
Now immediately raise the nose to continue the maneuver in the opposite direction. Your aircraft should
be on its original heading upon completion of the second wingover.
Techniques
When the wingover is introduced, visualize the aircraft’s path with relation to the horizon. Once you are
able to visualize this relation, the wingover is merely a matter of flying the aircraft through the pattern. As
the aircraft’s speed changes throughout the maneuver, you will have to adjust the amount of control
deflection to maintain a constant rate of pitch and roll. As your bank angle increases, it is difficult to keep
the nose coming up without drastically increasing your turn rate. If you are not getting 45 degrees nose
up, you may be rolling too fast during the initial part of the maneuver.
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