Lines: 35
From: acrocfi@aol.com (ACROCFI)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.piloting
Date: 18 Jul 2001 16:20:36 GMT
Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com
Subject: 360 Flyovers-strong wind corrections
Message-ID: <20010718122036.11327.00000029@ng-fv1.aol.com>

I think  Ground Reference Maneuvering is done mostly now at higher than real
altitude and higher than real speeds. Also with no precise spot on the ground
to finish the maneuver, or fly over spot. In my opinion that is one of the
cause of the many GRM and low stalls on take off and landings.

The first GRM maneuver I teach to students is the Turn Around a Point (TAP)
but I do them at 500 to 600 feet agl and at the real Vfinal speeds. That way
they practice Vfinal slow flights, the real sightseen speeds, and GRM at the
same time. The real way they are going to do photo flights after they are
certified. 
But the TAP dont require a precise alignment over a spot on the ground,
specially after a tailwind turn, so I teach them a circle over a crosswind road
I call 
 
360 flyovers. I select a real windy day. We fly over a long road, etc with a
strong crosswind from the left. I slow down in the crosswind crab to Vfinal
speed which I mark with a Blue line on Airspeed indicator. I put a blue line on
the Best glide speed. I use 10 degrees flaps for safety and better visibility.
I like to use a flag or smoke if any on the side of the road. Use a flag is
nicer. after trimmed to Vfinal I turn left shallow bank to start the 360
headwind part. Try to keep 2,000 away from the road before turning back to fly
over the flag again. The tailwind portion should not be over 45 deg. bank. If
not turned well in the strong tailwind you will overshoot the alignment over
the road and the flag and in the steep turn some not trained in tailwind align
pilots will tend to pull more (to the flag which will be on top of windshield
in the steep turn) and of course acellerated stall. (I keep my right hand ready
to stop their pull) Thats is the main purpose of the 360 Flyovers with strong
Tailwind, to teach those Low optical illussions when strong  tailwind. 
Same thing can happen when alignning on final for a crosswind landing with a
strong tailwind on base. The pilot does not even know he is pulling too hard. 
How can we know we can do something difficult and different well that we never
practiced?
I suggest this maneuver, because I have noticed many pilots can't do it well.
Just my 2 cents from an AcroELM CFI.