January 07th, 2025

Maneuver # 7 Humpty Bump pull, push, pull, with ½ roll up, ½ roll down.

This maneuver is performed at the center of the box. The entire figure should be centered. 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 Humpty Bump requires the pilot to start the pull into a ¼ loop beginning at center box. This will orient the aircraft into a vertical upline. 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 ¼ loop, and tracking on the vertical upline, there is a ½ roll flown  "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 must 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).

Subsequent to flying the ½ roll and matching the previous line, the pilot will push a ½ loop over the top of the Humpty, making sure the radius equals the initial ¼ loop that was flown. This will now orient the aircraft on a vertical downline. After drawing a line, the pilot will perform a ½ roll, then fly a matching line length before pulling a final ¼ loop to horizontal upright flight. (SEE ABOVE Rules 5B.8.4 & 5B.8.10).

The rules require certain center maneuvers entry AND exit to be at the same altitude, and this center Humpty Bump falls into that 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 Humpty Bump 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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