FLYING THE LOOP
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	IMAC Aerobatics Flying the Loop Inside and outside maneuvers   by DAN WOLANSKI   The loop is a complete circle (360 degrees) flown vertically. There are two kinds: the inside and the outside loop, both of which can be entered from upright or inverted. The former is the type most usually attempted, and it is accomplished by inputting up-elevator as the plane circles an imaginary center point. To do an outside loop, the pilot inputs down-elevator. More RC pilots attempt the loop than any other maneuver, and they probably do so within a month of flying solo. Flying a truly round loop takes significant concentration and is not as easy as it may look; it takes an aerobatic airplane such an Edge, Extra, CAP, or Giles with a power-to-weight ratio of at least 1.5:1. During the maneuver, power management is crucial to present a graceful, elegant display. THE INSIDE LOOP The easiest way to practice an inside loop is to fly parallel to the runway and approximately 100 yards away. Enter the maneuver into the wind, straight and level and at 1/2 throttle. Just before you reach the loop’s imaginary center, advance the throttle to full and then gradually apply up-elevator until you establish the radius you want. Having established this radius, you must stick with it for the entire maneuver. Continue to hold the up- elevator you started with until you reach the vertical position (90 degrees into the circle). At this point, add a little more up-elevator because the plane has slowed down and the stabilizer has become less effective. Adjust elevator carefully to maintain a constant radius, and follow through until your model nears the top of the loop. Near the top, let go of most of the up-elevator and reduce the throttle almost to idle (about 1/4); how much you need of each depends greatly on the wind. Do not reduce the throttle all the way to idle, or you will “chop” off the back side of the circle. As you pass top center, start to gradually apply up- elevator and then cut the throttle to idle as you approach a vertical descent. Depending on your plane’s wing loading and your prop’s braking capability, it may or may not gain a lot of speed. It’ s therefore important that you adjust the elevator to bring the model out of the maneuver at the same altitude as it entered it. To do this, I avoid focusing directly on my plane and instead look at the big picture—the entire sky; it’s kind of like being a spectator instead of the pilot. As pilots, we tend to focus too much on just the plane. Finally, within 30 degrees of finishing, increase throttle to maintain a constant speed as your model exits the loop straight and level. • Correcting heading and roll. Ninety percent of the roll and yaw corrections needed during a loop can be accomplished with the rudder; it will correct heading and minor roll problems. If you detect a roll problem while applying little or no elevator, correct it with your ailerons. Keep in mind that all inputs should be very gradual. Inputting elevator will increase drag and slow the aircraft, and this will change the effectiveness of the elevator, and you won’t have a truly circular loop. LOOP VARIATIONS • Outside loop. This is considered to be an advanced maneuver, but it’s technically the same as flying an inside loop; but pilots don’t get as much practice “pushing” the elevator through maneuvers as they do pulling it, and this makes those who haven’t practiced it uncomfortable. Outside loops require the same throttle management and corrections as inside loops, but there’s the added complexity of rudder and elevator being reversed when you fly inverted; the aileron adjustments, though, are the same as when the plane is upright. • Segment loop. One-quarter, half and three-quarter loops are the basic building blocks for nearly every advanced aerobatic maneuver. After all, most maneuvers are entered and/or exited while flying part of a loop. It’s so necessary to your sequences that a loop segment should be what you practice most. • Avalanche. This is a loop with a snap at the top and/or bottom. The maneuver requires not only mastery of the loop but also the ability to perform a snap roll from the inverted or upright position. Again, these are advanced maneuvers. • Rolling loop. During this, the plane rolls continuously as it loops—not a precision-competition maneuver, but it looks beautiful when done right. You must apply rudder and elevator (toward the center of the circle) while holding aileron constant throughout the loop. This maneuver is very difficult to perform and is usually seen in freestyle sequences flown by topnotch IMAC Unlimited, Tournament of Champions and World Masters pilots. • Knife-edge loop. Again, not a precision-competition maneuver, but it’s a real kick to do while maintaining knife- edge flight and relying on rudder throughout. Pilots can easily complete the first upward segment of the knife-edge loop, but it takes a lot of courage and confidence to complete the second half as the plane hurtles toward the ground. I have found that the Ultimate Bipe is the best aircraft for this maneuver. If you want to improve your aerobatics skills, mastering the loop will get you on your way to performing more graceful maneuvers in no time.