FLYING & JUDGING CORNER

Maneuver #4  Split S with a 2 point roll.

This maneuver is performed at the end of the box as a turn-around figure. It begins at a higher altitude and when completed, will bring the aircraft lower. 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).

On entry into the maneuver, the pilot has to perform a 2 point roll (two consecutive half rolls) which will keep the aircraft inverted when finished. "(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).

Immediately after completing the 2 point roll, the aircraft must start the pull into the Half Loop, making sure that NO LINE is drawn between the two. “Immelmann Turn and Split-S maneuvers where rolls are always performed immediately before or after or part-loop, which means, the rolls always begin with the start of the lines and stop with the end of the lines. A visible line in-between the two components or rolls and not completely before or after the part-loop, must downgrade the maneuver.” (RULE 5B.8.10).
 
The radius of the half loop 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 half loop, the aircraft will be upright. The exit of the Split S is complete when the pilot 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)

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