F3S FLYING & JUDGING CORNER: SILVER #11

Maneuver # 11    Cuban 8 with full roll, half roll.

This maneuver is performed at the center of the box and the entire figure should be centered on the center line of the box. It begins inverted and when completed, the aircraft will be upright, continuing in the same direction.  All maneuvers are required to be wind corrected. There is a deduction of 1 point per 15° deviation and 0.5 point for half of this (in roll, yaw and pitch).

The first part of the Cuban 8 requires the pilot, from inverted, to push a 5/8 outside loop. This will orient the aircraft into an upright 45° downline. The radius should be smooth and constant. "Each occurrence of a minor difference in radius must downgrade the maneuver by 0.5 point, while more severe deviations may downgrade it by 1, 1.5, 2 or more points for each occurrence. The first radius of a maneuver does not define the radii for the remaining radii of a maneuver but it is a starting point. As the maneuver progresses, the judge will compare each radius that was just flown to the last radius flown and if there is a difference, then a downgrade will be given based on the severity of the difference." (RULE 5B.8.4. LOOPS).

After performing the 5/8 loop, and establishing the 45° line, the pilot will perform a full roll, ensuring the line prior to the roll is equal to the line after (the roll must be centered and roll rate constant). "Whenever a continuous roll, part-roll, snap roll, or a consecutive combination of these is placed on a line, the length of the line before and after the roll or the combination of consecutive rolls must be equal. 0.5 point is subtracted for a minor difference, and 1 or more points for a major difference. If there is a complete absence of a line before or after the roll, 3 points are subtracted." (RULE 5B.8.10). "(B)The roll-rate must be constant. Minor variations in roll-rate must be downgraded by 0.5 point, while more severe variations must receive a downgrade of 1 or more points. (c) The start and stop of the rotation must be crisp and well-defined. If a start or stop is badly defined, 0.5 or more points are to be subtracted for each." (RULE 5B.8.5.b,c). In addition, being a center maneuver, not only should the roll be centered on the 45° line, but the aircraft should be inverted as it passes the center line of the box.

Subsequent to flying the roll and matching the previous line, the pilot will pull a ¾ loop, making sure the radius equals the initial 5/8 loop that was flown. This will now orient the aircraft on a 45° inverted  downline. After drawing a line, the pilot will perform a ½ roll, then fly a matching line length before pulling a final 1/8 loop to horizontal upright flight. (SEE Rules 5B.8.4 & 5B.8.10). In addition, being a center maneuver, not only should the ½ roll be centered on the 45° line, but the aircraft should be in knife edge as it passes the center line of the box.

The rules require certain center maneuvers entry AND exit to be at the same altitude, and this center Cuban 8 falls into this category. “Center maneuvers start and finish on the same heading, while turn-around maneuvers finish on a track 180 degrees from the entry. When appropriate, entry and exit of center maneuvers must be at the same altitude, unless specified otherwise. Positioning adjustments in altitude are allowed in turn-around maneuvers.”  (RULE 5B.2)

The exit of the Cuban 8 is complete when the pilot draws a short upright horizontal line. "All aerobatic maneuvers are entered and exited by a horizontal line of recognizable length. When no horizontal line is flown between two maneuvers, the just-completed maneuver must be downgraded by 1 point and the upcoming maneuver must be downgraded by 1 point. The last maneuver of a schedule must have an exit line of at least one (1) second in duration for the maneuver to be deemed complete." (RULE 5B.8.3)