How'd he do that?
 

I watched the Aerospace America airshow in Oklahoma City last Saturday and saw some outstanding full scale flying by some premier performers. The three aerobatic stunts that stand out in my mind were done by Sean D. Tucker in his Oracle Challenger biplane. The first was a double hammerhead. He set up for this stunt as if it were a normal hammerhead, but at the top of the vertical, when he kicked the tail over, he punched the throttle and kicked the tail all the way around for another complete rotation! A 540 degree hammerhead. What an awesome display of power and rudder authority.
He also did a torque roll that seemed to last for about 10 seconds with about 5 or 6 rotations. He didn't lose any altitude in that manuever. Again, an awesome display of power considering this was a full scale airplane.
I am still unsure as to how he performed the other manuever that was a highlight for me. He did a vertical upline at show center, and at the top of the line, he turned the fuselage to horizontal, and performed consecutive wingtip over wingtip axial rolls with no forward speed. It amounted to a freefall with rolls around the centerline of the fuselage. It looked fantastic but I have no idea what it was called or how he did it. Any ideas?
I would love to be able to add these manuevers to my RC Aerobatic repetoire, but my Giles doesn't have enough power to pull off the double hammerhead. I don't have any idea how to attempt the last manuever described and would appreciate any input on how to perform it. My guess is that it has a lot to do with engine torque but not too much thrust so you don't fly out of it. I wonder if he feathered the prop back so he minimized thrust to start the roll without the airplane moving forward.

How'd he do that?
 

This move is common among most accomplished 3D flyers. Most refer to these as high alpha rolls or Harrier rolls. With practice and a strong headwind, you can actually get the plane to fly backwards while rolling and descending. Extreme rates on aileron, rudder, and elevator are required, as well as blasts of throttle to maintain a nose high attitude without much forward movement. Its a timing thing and takes some practice to get it.

How'd he do that?
 

AWSOME!!!! Wish I had seen it!

How'd he do that?
 

Here is a link here on RCU that I took some picture of Shawn flying that same plane. I took the picts. in Millington, TN Spring/summer of '01. Your right some of the stuff he does is just plane awesome. I am waiting to start seeing full scale airplane start doing rudder touches on toruge rolls. I think it is only a matter of time.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...hreadid=141699]

How...?
 

I wouldn't classify the manuever as a harrier roll. The fuse was horizontal, not at all nose high. The airplane was literally falling straight down while rolling around the centerline of the fuselage. Maybe I didn't have a good angle but that's what it looked like. I haven't seen anybody do that with an RC model, but I haven't been to any large events where there is serious talent present.
Sean did his infamous knife edge to opposite knife edge to inverted triple ribbon cut and I would bet there was less than 10 feet between the low wing and the ground. Of course, I've seen lower passes with RC models, but this was full scale where one slip-up means probable death, not just a slap to the pocketbook.
It seems like everyone who knows Sean or knows of him calls him a maniac or insane or a nut before they give him credit for being an outstanding pilot. I thought his flying was very impressive and he looked like he was completely in control at all times. That's a lot of talent.

How'd he do that?
 

I would guess that Sean is using very low or even "0" or reverse pitch on his CS prop for his vertically decending horizontal rolls, a feature we don't have on our Sunday R/C flyers. But, might be fun to try!

D. Hayes

How'd he do that?
 

I saw him premiere that maneuver in Houston about a year ago...I agree, it was amazing......it looks like the tail flips over the nose of the plane, not the other way around......That is one awesome plane.....he says that the Pitts just didn't have the performance he needed. He also did the 3 ribbon cut, 2 with each wingtip, and last inverted.....he was about 10 feet off the ground hauling butt.....

How'd he do that?
 

I was at Aerospace America also and saw Sean do the double Hammerhead. He is one awesome pilot. And there was no Harrier about it. He just spins that tail around the propeller..

BTW, this years was the best airshow I've ever seen. If anyone who likes airshows is within the Oklahoma City driving distance, needs to come next year.

Just bring your 4 wheel drive if you have it though. Parking was a bit muddy.. :D