Steep Turns

A steep turn is is any turn that has more than 25 degrees of bank angle. If this turn is not performed correctly a spiral dive or stall will follow. Lift and weight increases in steep turns. The increase in angle of attack will also increase the drag.

To enter a steep turn you bank the aircraft gently to 45 degrees at the same time pulling back on the joystick and gradually increasing the throttle.  The secret of the steep turn  is to hold the correct bank angle and pitch and maintain the correct airspeed. Airspeed will be lost quickly in a steep turn. Ensure power is added early enough. Height will also be lost if not enough back stick pressure is applied. Watch your Airspeed indicator and altimeter and vertical speed indicator during the turn.

If you lose height in the turn reduce the bank angle and raise the pitch angle.

If you gain height in the turn increase bank angle push the stick forward slightly.

A 45 degree turn would be used for orbiting over a fixed point on the ground.

To roll out of the turn you have to reduce bank ease the stick forward and reduce power. Because of the high turn rate you will have to start the roll level 30 degrees before the required heading.

Before doing aerobatics or steep turns another check has to be performed and a good all round look out for other aircraft .

The check is know as HASELL

H= Height safe for the exercise

A=Flaps Up

S=Security hatches and harness secure

E= Engine Temperatures and Gauges

L= Not Over built up areas animals and airfields

L=look out for other aircraft and obstacles such as power lines.

It takes a lot of practice to do a 45 degree bank angle turn without gaining or losing height.You have to be applying or reducing bank angle pitch and power all at the same time in proportion.

 S Turns

Aircraft climbing or descending should do an s turn this is so that they do not climb or descend into another aircraft directly on top or below them.  In a climb or descent the pilot should alter course in a half rate or rate one turn  say 10 degrees to the left then climb for 500 ft  then turn 10 degrees to the right and climb the next 500 ft this should be repeated until the required height is reached. At each stage the pilot should look for other aircraft. Then repeat the procedure by turning ten degrees to the right etc etc the next time and so on.

A similar procedure should be adopted on the descent especially on the dead side of the circuit where aircraft are descending to circuit height. In long climbs the pilot should  also lower the nose frequently  to check ahead for other aircraft.