Hi, well I know this has been asked a few times but really no ones answered it fully. :stupid: Whats the secrets of a pattern snap and what surfaces should have the most throw for snaps, this I am meaning without loosing heading and without loosing speed. In the P 03 schedule theres a 45 degree upline with 1 & 1/2 positive snaps which when I do I always need to corect the line afterwards. Also theres another 1 & 1/2 snaps into 4 of an 8 point roll, this is better but the plane often doesnt exit the snaps at the same attitude that it was entered. the nose is down and to the right... What surface travels are usual, ive heard somone say little rudder, more elevator but it still gets quite deep into the snaps.

Thanks guys, let the secrets fly..

I too fly p03 and have the same problem with the snaps both who doesn't............... I feel that these snaps should not be in any schedule because they are too hard to judge, and each pilot has his own style of snap which makes it event harder to judge.

The top pilots seen to be doing as fast as possible snaps as they can and if the end up facing the right direction and with out losing and height then they get the marks.

Anyway I feeling since spending abot 10 flights practicing these snap that It is all abouth max ailerons, and a delicate combination of rudder and elevator which varies from model to model, I also feel that speed has a huge part to play, I enter my horizontal snap a full speed reduce speed during and increase it again at exit, it is hard on the fingers but it work. as for the 45 up I do it at full speed with full aileron and very little rudder and elevator....... and finally for my loop with the snap I do it at full speed positive snap with the rates the same as my horizontal.

Hope this has helped.....................

I would be interested to hear other peoples view on this or any of the rest of the f3a p03

Well the snap is not that terrible, but proper entry speed and throttle setting makes a big difference.

On my Evolis here is what I do, elevator - 10 degrees, ailerons - 20 ish degrees, rudder - 25 degrees. To enter the snap I come in about 1/2 throttle, start the snap and throttle to idle at the same time this gives me a little more control over the exit. Throttle up and happy days For the 45 up snap I dont come quite back to idle, only down to 1/4 but I carry more throttle at the entry 3/4 or so. The Evolis snaps really axially, and does not depart much in pitch so it sure makes life a lot easier.

Use only enough elevator to get the break, it helps to have very effective ailerons and lots of them. Reduce the rudder until you dont lose a lot of heading, I also noticed that the more aileron that I used the less loss of heading I got. Also as I increased the elevator throw the speed of the snap decreased and it went to crap.

I like the snaps, should the be in there, sure after all it is FAI and we should be able to do a snap roll

I fly a Focus- this and other pattern planes I've flown... I use the following technique.

I increased the elevator throw quite significantly to get nice clean snaps. I've also used dual rate for snaps because of this. I go deep in the elevator, particularly at the start to give it a nice clean break. I normally leave almost all of it in throughout the snap (with my pattern plane, but not toc plane)

Second, I snap away (from me). Any heading change in this direction is less impact on the overall presentation.

Lastly, if its windy, normally snap with the wind- particularly on the 45 upline. That way the (weather vane tendency) corrects the exit. You are also better positioned for the next maneuver (reverse top hat) effectively.

Hope that helps.
Don

Interesting, more elevator, just goes to show that different planes react differently, the Evolis didnt snap worth a damn with lots of elevator

The snapping away from you really works as well, you can also be sneaky by leading the snap out then snap in, but I have only seen a few guys can pull it off with any credibility, most know who they are