Gentlemen,
Regarding the 2 roll in intermediate, I've read that roll rate is not a judging criteria. Is that the case, or are 2 slow rolls seen as better than 2 fast rolls?

Mike

G'day Mike,

If the two rolls are at the same rate then it shouldn't be a down grade. However, a slow roll will look more graceful and smooth to the judge.

Regards
Jason.

Mornin' Mike,

Last weekend I attended a contest with 13 Intermediate competitors at the Farm Club in Bealeton, VA and the top 3 were all using a relatively slow roll rate for their 2 rolls. Not super slow, but certainly slower than the rate I was using. One of the judges reminded me after a flight that centering is judged and a fast roll is harder to demonstrate centering with than a slow roll. I wouldn't take that as conclusive, but at least it's food for thought. Certainly got me to thinking about slowing my rolls slightly.


Joe

Mike,

Roll as comfortable as you can. A really graceful slow roll presents better, however it is a lot easier to screw up and go from a 9-10 to a 3-4. If you arent real comfortable with 2 rolls, then roll a little faster and take the rudder out of the equation initially. When you get comfortable doing them well that way, then you can begin to incorporate the rudder. Bottom line is to roll as fast as you are comfortable with and then work on slowing it down and adding rudder, but those are things to work when you are home practicing, not in the middle of a contest.

Arch

I have heard a rule of thumb is 2 seconds per roll. I like this rule because it shows control, but you can still make it look crisp and precise. The double roll is hard for us "newbies."

Thanks guys,
The 2 roll rumba is my nemesis. I can slow roll, 4 pt roll, drop and roll and cinnamon roll. But 2 rolls makes my knees shake.
The drive by 2 roll looks lame. When I'm on my game my 2 slow rolls look OK, just not as consistent as the drive by.
Oh well, I've always swung for the fence.

What Arch said.

Iwould add that some intermediate pilots tend to have their aileron throws too high, so the rolls are REALLYfast. This is not a good thing. In addition to making the rolls hard to keep up with it will make the entire pattern difficult to fly smoothly.

The easiest thing you can do when not comfortable with the slower rudder/elev roll is to set max aileron throw to the speed you want the two roll, this can be quick but not "sport flier" speed. Then on the two rolls go full ailerons and pump down, up, down,hintof up. By moving ailerons to the stops it will keep the speed consistent as you're pumping elevator. The roll speed should be fast enough that you don't drop altitude on knife edge, but slow enough that you can keep up with the pumping of the elevator.

Practice different dual rate speeds on your ailerons at high altitude until you find something that's comfortable.

Keith B