Wingover vs Box Canyon Turn

[mcrit]

Always wondered why people teach min radius turns to get out of a box canyon instead of a wingover.

[Colonel]

Generally by the time someone realizes they're in a pinch, they've already traded off their airspeed
for altitude in the ascending canyon, so a wingover isn't an option, if they even know how to do one.

Oddly the simple wingover is regarded as something complicated, dangerous and mysterious on
both sides of the border. I have no idea why. A few years back, I was giving some dual to a guy
with a Maule down here, and he asked to see a wingover, because his CFI told him that he lacked
the competency to perform one on a Maule.

I am not making this up. A fucking Maule, for God's sake.

PS. Guess at how many CFI's on the left coast will teach wheel landings on Maules. It's not a
trick question. Guess what I was doing last weekend.

[Slick Goodlin]

What’s a proper wingover look like and how do you do one? I know what I do but I’m generally wrong about most things and not opposed to learning.

[mcrit]

I usually pull up about 15 degrees of pitch, roll in 30ish degrees of bank, then pull back smoothly letting bank and pitch increase until I’m at 90 bank or 90 heading change (ideally they happen at the same time), then I freeze the controls until the nose is coming down and I’m about 45 degrees of my outbound heading, then I start a smooth roll out pull out. Keep the ball centred through out

[Colonel]

The wingover and the aileron roll are the first two maneuvers I teach to someone in a course of aerobatics. They are gentle, slow, smooth and only very light positive G.

Take a shoelace and lay it out flat in a tight U. Pick up the pinched end. That’s a wingover. Pitch and roll together on the symmetrical entry and exit. At maximum altitude, maximum bank is achieved which should be 90 degrees, and heading change is also 90 from entry,. Ball is in the center the entire time.

Entry and exit altitudes and airspeeds should be the same, with a 180 degree change in heading. Ground reference lines are invaluable.

PS the CFI that can’t fly a wingover? Just got appointed DPE. I am not making this up.

[Colonel]

There are several ways to turn an airplane around from cruise speed/altitude. Specifically you want 180 degrees of heading change.

Well, one way is the level turn. Lacks imagination, but go full throttle, 75 degrees of bank, +4G and around you go. Pilots don’t like to use the vertical, oddly. Builds character.

Wingover. See above. Airspeed is traded for altitude and turning is done at slow speed at apogee.

1/2 Cuban-8. Great way to turn around.

Hammerhead. Even better way to turn around.

My personal favorite is a humpty with a half roll on the way down. Think of a vertical paper clip.

Anyways these are all basic light positive G maneuvers which can be easily done within Utility category limits and should be in the toolbox of any competent pilot.