Calypso Pass

"How To" by our Pilot Staff
Post Reply
User avatar
lqcorsa
Posts: 439
Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2005 2:31 am
Location: Seattle, WA

Calypso Pass

Post by lqcorsa » Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:40 pm

Hello again,

I need some MAJOR work on my calypso pass, (being the inverted aircraft). When I roll inverted, I tend to get all over the place, and I am way off runway heading, and I'm tens of feet off altitude, I find it extremley hard to manouver into position inverted, so is their anyway I can use rudders, my stick, or anything to be at the same altitude, and heading after my roll? Any help would be great.
User avatar
Burner
Virtual Thunderbird Alumnus
Posts: 1420
Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2005 5:08 pm
Location: New Orleans, LA

Post by Burner » Wed Apr 12, 2006 12:49 pm

The inverted plane should be lead in the Calypso, therefore not maneuvering but staring out the HUD trying to keep the plane absolutely level and stable.
User avatar
lqcorsa
Posts: 439
Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2005 2:31 am
Location: Seattle, WA

Post by lqcorsa » Wed Apr 12, 2006 3:59 pm

I was just using it as an example, I mean any time I'm rolling inverted.
User avatar
Lawndart
Virtual Thunderbird
Posts: 9292
Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:36 am
Location: Mooresville, NC

Post by Lawndart » Thu Apr 13, 2006 3:29 pm

I could give you a much more in depth answer, but via real procedure:

1. Off-set your heading a few degrees right of the runway, so that the left roll-over lines you up perfectly over the runway/show line.
2. Pitch up 2 degrees before the roll.
3. Do a quick full-scale aileron roll (practice, practice, practice until you can nail it).
4. Gradually, but briskly put in forward stick to hold the velocity vector on the level-line (this too takes a lot of practice to do consistenly without gaining or loosing more than a few feet).
5. Hold it, hold it, hold it.

I won't get into the rollout technique now, but you'll need at least 400 knots to be stable enough and not have the nose pitched too far upward. Also, if you're too fast it becomes too touchy. Recommended by a real Thunderbird Solo, he said he liked to use 420 knots for the reasons mentioned above. I could go much more in detail, but this outta get you started...

LD
User avatar
lqcorsa
Posts: 439
Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2005 2:31 am
Location: Seattle, WA

Post by lqcorsa » Sat Apr 15, 2006 2:02 am

Thanks LD, helped quite a bit.
Post Reply