Cloverleaf

AIR FORCE T-38 TRACK INTERMEDIATES

CHAPTER 2

(3) Getting the nose up too high so that you get slower than 100 knots. This is

mainly a function of not rolling fast enough; do not let Wingman consideration make you fly a

bad airplane! Increase bank angle and back stick pressure to control the pitch angle.

(4) Unloading during wingwork. DO NOT GET NEGATIVE G DURING

WINGWORK! Unloading the aircraft with a Wingman near you, particularly when you get

slow is unsafe! You should be flying the wingwork so that if you had a cup of coffee on the

glareshield you would not spill it and it would always remain in the same place, always keep

positive G. Trim!

204.

CLOVERLEAF

a. Description

The Cloverleaf maneuver combines the first half of a Barrel Roll with the last half of a Loop.

b. General

This maneuver combines the smooth coordinated rolling control of the Barrel Roll and the pull

control of the basic Loop. It will help develop your timing, planning and coordination. You will

start with one (one of the four petals) of this maneuver at a time only until you are introduced to

the Combination Maneuver, after which you may do four series back to back (for a full four-leaf

clover). You must keep clearing yourself throughout the entire series. Review the Description

and General paragraphs for both the Barrel Roll and the Loop in the Contact FTI.

c. Procedures

(1) Transition to aerobatic cruise and complete the Aerobatic Checklist.

Commence a clearing turn and roll out perpendicular to a section line. Pick a prominent

reference point on the horizon 90o to either side of the nose, in the direction you intend to

perform the maneuver.

(2) Commence the maneuver by smoothly raising the nose while keeping the wings

level. As the exhaust stacks pass the horizon, roll and pull so that the nose travels around in an

arcing path towards the selected 90E checkpoint. After 45E of turn the angle of bank should be

90E and the nose will be at its highest point during the maneuver (approximately 5560 degrees

above the horizon).

(3) Continue rolling the aircraft at a constant rate until in a wings level, inverted

attitude, heading directly at the 90E reference point on the horizon. Your nose should be

slightly above the horizon and the airspeed should be between 90 and 100 knots. Fly the

aircraft through the inverted position, stopping the roll at wings level.

(4) Tilt your head back and visually locate the opposite horizon. Correct with

aileron as necessary to maintain the wings parallel to the horizon. Check the nose in relation to

the section line (opposite from your 90E reference point) while correcting for directional

deviations as necessary by adjusting the rudder inputs.

(5) Airspeed will reach its slowest point at the top of the loop. The greatest amount

of right rudder input will therefore be required at this point in order to maintain balanced flight.

Maintain positive G-loading and wings parallel to the horizon.

T-38 PRECISION AEROBATICS 2-5