Steering while inverted???
 

I just posted about getting out of trouble while inverted on another thread and it brought up a question on something I havent quite figure out yet.

What are you thought processes to steer while flying inverted? For instance I was taught that while upright and flying towards me push the stick to the low wingtip to level the wings. works absolutely great! I can fly upright in any direction with ease now.

Are their any tricks like that to level the wings while in inverted flight?
Plane inverted coming at me?

Plane inverted going away?

I would like to think that eventually I can easily fly in circles inverted without thinking about it. I can fly inverted but I still feel a little uncomfortable steering, when I get lost I just roll back over and fly out.

Any tips tricks would be great.

RE: Steering while inverted???
 

Do the same thing.

The plane rolls the same way whether inverted or upright.

RE: Steering while inverted???
 

It works the same inverted IF YOU HAVE AILERONS. Your rudder works backwards when inverted; if you have your rudder and ailerons coupled together, they will be fighting each other...JIM

RE: Steering while inverted???
 

Which they shouldn't be anyway...

I don't even think about it anymore. With enough time, you won't either.

RE: Steering while inverted???
 

Don't for get elevator is reverse inverted, OOOOOOO what a mess.

RE: Steering while inverted???
 

Yep. Turns while inverted (with ailerons) are exactly the same as upright. Except you might need to add a bit more down elevator in the turn, instead of the up you'd normally add. And yes, rudder is reversed.
Dennis-

RE: Steering while inverted???
 

Rudder is reversed unless you are flying a three channel plane or have a lot of dihedral.

RE: Steering while inverted???
 

OK Thanks guys that is great. Appreciate the input. I think what confused me was coming off of a 3 channel plane that had rudder only. cause it was very confusing. Once again thanks!

RE: Steering while inverted???
 

When the plane is inverted you will need to push on the elevator stick to keep the plane from losing altitude. I found that some planes weon't turn very well or refuse to turn if the plane is flying perfectly level. To get them to turn or to get a faster turn, allow the nose to drop a bit by not pushing quite as hard on the elevator stick. Then the plane will turn quite readily. I spent a few hours working on flying inverted before I learned that trick![8D]

RE: Steering while inverted???
 

Watch out for the SBF (sudden brain fart) where for an instant you forget you're inverted and apply elevator in the wrong direction. Also watch out for the post-inverted SBF, where you forget for an instant that you have returned to normal flight.... I've seen some spectacular crashes.

RE: Steering while inverted???
 

LOL..
Well I tried out your advice all and it worked GREAT! I was able to fly inverted and even do a few racetracks. One thing I have learned is stay high!! As long as Im 3 mistakes high I have no problems recovering from momentary brainfarts! I think so far my favorite maneuver is a outside loop, that is such a butt puckering thing to do, especially when I just let it dive vertically for a while and then try to make a square turn with a rounded corner. Once I get to the bottom and push to inverted I chicken out, roll her over and get outta there. But I am getting braver by the day. Just hope my bravery doesnt exceed my ability!!!

HEYYYY! ALSO, one of the studs at our field was watching me fly and taught me to knife edge. I have to say I really lucked out though, my plane just ended up pretty well balanced and trimmed no pull or push whatsoever. All I have to do is give a little opposite rudder and it will knife edge straight as an arrow.. REALLY REALLY cool feeling.

RE: Steering while inverted???
 

BigNed,
You didn't mention what type of plane you're flying. If it's a trainer with any dihedral, be careful of pulling out of a dive inverted. It's easy to fold the wing. ;)

RE: Steering while inverted???
 

Hehehe...
Well its a U Can Do .60. I have been flying about 8 big weeks now. Before that I was flying my Kadet Senior Kit I built, like you said I had to be careful, well it was HARD to fly inverted with dihedral and NO ailerons (current add on project), the dihedral in a Kadet Senior makes it almost impossile to fly inverted especially rudder only. Not to mention the fact that I am new to RC flying. I flew it for about 6 weeks with my Kadet Senior before I got this plane.
I have had my UCD in the air about 15 times in 10 days I guess. I have learned extremely fast, I cant explain why but it sure is FUN!!! Plus Im still pretty shaky on my landings, ESPECIALLY that final approach turn. Im really intimidated turning my U CAN DO at 20-30' off the ground at low throttle, it just drops so fast in the turn. Im getting there though.
I caught myself using rudder and ailerons to guide the plane in on landing approaches today without really having to think about it. Aerobatics are 10x easier than landing for me...[8D]

RE: Steering while inverted???
 

Ned, when you mentioned about "not having to think about it" is where the fun starts. Try to put your brain out of the loop, such as where the sticks are. Just let your fingers fly the plane without thinking about it. When I do a certain maneuver and someone asks what stick movements I used, I can't remember because I do it automatically. Like I say, now the fun starts. Have fun.

RE: Steering while inverted???
 

Once you get the hang of it you will enjoy going back to the three channel Kadet. I finally found this picture of mine;)

RE: Steering while inverted???
 

When all else fails all you have to remember is forward stick b/c forward is not always down.

RE: Steering while inverted???
 

My son did thay very thing last spring and totaled his PT .40.

RE: Steering while inverted???
 

The real "fun" doesn't start until you feed in the wrong rudder after rolling in to a knife edge at low altitude. I don't think there is a better way to scatter wreckage over a larger area than that one. :D

(I came "this close" to smearing my Cap21 the other day while doing low level knife edges, and in the crash forum there is a video of a Kangaroo (I think) turbine plane coming apart in dramatic fasion from this move).

RE: Steering while inverted???
 

When your inverted, just remember that when you push up then you will go up.........I have got disoriented and that just didn't work........people are goin to far with this......Upside-down, up on the sticks is UP for the plane TOO!!!!