Aerobatics
Familiarization
Bring the nose through the horizon while still inverted with wings level and aligned on the referenced
terrain feature. Stop the nose movement at 45 degrees nosedown and roll upright, maintaining wings
level. Forty-five degrees nosedown is achieved when it feels like your feet are on the horizon. Continue in
a 45-degree dive and accelerate to recover at entry airspeed. Use a 4-g pull to the horizon during
recovery. The maneuver is complete when you are on entry altitude at 380 KIAS and going in the opposite
direction. Be sure to stop the nose at 45 degrees nosedown with forward stick pressure prior to rolling
wings level.
IMMELMANN
The Immelmann combines the first half of a loop with a 180-degree roll to wings level at the top of the loop
(Figure 14).
Figure 14: IMMELMANN
Procedures
Complete the prestall and aerobatic checklist prior to performing the Immelmann. Begin the maneuver at
380 KIAS, on altitude, and lined up on a prominent terrain feature or section line. Advance the power to
approximately 96% rpm and expeditiously initiate a smooth 4-g wings level pullup. Increase back stick
pressure to maintain 4-g pull as airspeed decreases. To maintain wings level attitude during the first half
of the maneuver, scan the horizon on both sides of the aircraft after the horizon disappears under the
nose.
Continue to maintain the 4-g pull until reaching the optimum AOA (17 units) and maintain optimum AOA
until the nose is 10 degrees above the horizon inverted. Ten degrees above the horizon is achieved when
the canopy bow is on the horizon. Gently stop the nose movement at 10 degrees above the horizon by
releasing back stick pressure and then roll upright, using coordinated aileron and rudder. The aircraft will
feel mushy because of the slow airspeed (about 150-170 KIAS). The maneuver is complete when you are
in wings level flight at 180 KIAS going in the opposite direction.
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