FLYING & JUDGING CORNER

Figure #2

Maneuver #2: Half Cuban 8 with ½ roll.
This maneuver is performed at the end of the box as a turn-around figure. 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 pitch, roll and yaw).

The first part of the Half Cuban requires the pilot to pull into a 5/8 loop. 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, the aircraft will be on an inverted 45° downline. There is a ½ roll flown which will bring the aircraft to upright. "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." (RULE 5B.8.5.b). This ½ roll should be centered on the line. "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).

The exit of the Half Cuban 8 is complete when the aircraft finishes the 1/8 loop, making sure the radius matches the initial 5/8 loop that was flown, and then draws a short 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)

The entry and exit altitudes do not have to be the same. This will prepare the pilot for the upcoming #3 maneuver.

---