Hi all. Those of you that can do the sweet horizon to horizon slow rolls, are you using a low aileron rate and pushing the stick all the way to the stop, or are you skilled enough to maintain constant roll rate while feeding in elevator when inverted?

Since my slow rolls tend to start out slow and then speed up at the end, I'm thinking of putting a super low aileron rate on a switch so I can just push the stick to the stop.

Thoughts???

I personally don't like to set a roll rate like that. I just fly it. The problem with setting it that way is if you start early or late, there is no way to change how fast you are going to roll for the maneuver. Also, if you have a really bad tail wind you may not be able to roll quite as slowly. I think you are better off learning to fly the plane instead of using a rate to try to control the roll rate.

Just my .02

Arch

I gotta agree with Archie on this one. I have my ailerons set for a really hot roll rate with probably -40% - -50% expo, and just fly what feels like a good rate for the roll based on the conditions and where the roll was started. Stick movement for me on the slow roll is probably anywhere between 10% and 20% of the available stick travel, it just depends. The key to not affecting roll rate when applying elevator is to fly the maneuver properly and having a well-trimmed airplane. If you use sufficient rudder while rolling to inverted, all the elevator will have to do is maintain the straight line rather than trying to "catch" the airplane before the nose drops. This way you're just barely bumping the down elevator before the other rudder takes over the job of keeping the nose up. Blend all those controls smoothly and you've got yourself a nice slow roll with a consistent roll rate.

+1

Great guys, thanks for the input. I'll keep practicing!

Better off spending that practice time learning mode 1

I was wondering how long it was gonna take before someone brought up mode 1...

Hello,
I am on mode 2 and like you I had to learn and practice how to move the right stick and command Elevator inputs while keeping the position of Aileron steady. Here is my experience:
On the P09 I used special condition with X amount of Aileron rate on a Flat Graph along the stick travel. This was to do the 3 opposite rolls maneuver. This was working nicely but I did not have any room for changes during flight. Also after some time I have realized that I am using my good programming skills instead of learn how to fly properly.
Then I started to fly all day long slow single roll from one side of the box to the other size. Very quickly I started to feel ok with the ship at any attitude. Once that happen I kind of relaxed during the maneuver. Once that happen I found that I am more confident and the aileron stick stopped the bad habit to move and increase the rate in In order to “finish the roll” more quickly and kind of “get ride of it…”

Then our champion comes and teaches me another trick. While slow rolling the ship, move your eyes from the plane and look around. Let the ship fly and roll while your eyes are temporarily looking around. This is dem hard but you have to feel confidence enough to make a slow roll and move your focus from the ship, look around and just watch the ship as a back spot between your eyes on your eyes view box…

Let me tell you: Once you learn to do that your ship will roll by if self, no matter which side you come from and to which direction you roll into, you will have time to center the maneuver properly, adjust the roll rate to current situation and keep it and keep the altitude precisely along the entire box. All this with 20% of your “CPU” utilization.

Look at our top pilot making these maneuvers… they can make cappuccino while executing it…

I hope this will help…

Good luck
Amram Lesded
Israel F3A

I hate moving the stick all the way over for a slow roll. I feel like I have more control when I move the stick  25%. I have a question in reply to <font size="2" color="#00265e">mjfrederick</font>'s comment. How do you fly with -40 to -50% ? I only have -25% with 125 on my dual rate. Maybe its because I fly 3-D along with pattern.

JBFoamies

There's a lot of factors at play, and you can't really compare one radio setup to another unless they have the exact same throws on the surfaces. I haven't looked at it in a while, but I'd venture a guess that my ATV is set somewhere between 80 and 100%, it doesn't change the fact that I have probably 18 - 20 degrees of throw on my ailerons at full deflection (might be more, it's been a long time since this one was set up). I fly with a ton of expo because I want my rolls to be relatively slow and smooth in all maneuvers, not just the slow roll, but I need the ability to do them quickly if necessary. The large deflection is for the snaps so I don't have to use a condition. Basically, my full deflections on all surfaces are adjusted for the snap, and then the expo is dialed in to make all the other things smoother since I rarely hit full deflection on any maneuver except the snap and the spin.