Aerial show stunts (also called aerobatic maneuvers) are skilled moves experienced pilots display during aerobatic flying at air shows. There are several stunts, each with a distinct approach and required expertise. One significant comparison between these stunts is vertical elevation followed by some degree of change, either forward or backward, and then deceleration.
Top Aerial Show Stunts
This article will discover 7 of the most unique and sought-after stunts.
1. Loop Maneuver
Loop maneuver is a wild move achieved by diving and pulling back sharply in an inverted motion. It is among the most famous and deadliest moves of all time! The movement is often repeated to get the loopy effect. In every loop, the pilot has to navigate through a force of gravity nine times the normal.
2. Cuban Eight Maneuver
This stunt looks like a figure S lying on its side. It is achieved by moving the vertically inverted aircraft downwards in a 5/8 loop to the 45-degree line, a half roll, and a swift 1/8 circle to the base level. Following the same process, this type of stunt performed backward is called a Reverse Cuban Eight. It’s most impressive when It’s performed very close to ground level.
3. Hammerhead Maneuver
Hammerhead maneuver (also known as a stall turn) is performed by moving the aircraft vertically until 90 degrees to the base level and the airspeed drops to a critical level. After this move, the pilot uses the rudder to rotate the aircraft till it has spun 180 degrees and is pointing vertically toward the ground level. The plane then moves in the opposite direction, from which the maneuver starts to complete the flight.
This maneuver is called the search and rescue reversal because it is used when searching for survivors or submarines since it brings the aircraft directly back to the same spot. Stall turn doesn’t require visual meteorological conditions (VMC) if the pilot maintains altitude by keeping the plane’s lateral acceleration ball centered.
4. Outside Loop Maneuver
An outside loop stunt is achieved by flying in a curve out of the flight’s direction. This flight requires the plane to turn over 360 degrees, with the elevator controlling the flight primarily while the rudder coordinates its movement. The back of the aircraft is on the outer side of the curve in the flight’s direction.
The back stick has to be increased to form a perfect loop to improve the airspeed. Recovering from this move can be achieved before the initial altitude and below take-off speed due to the aircraft’s high turning ability.
5. Erect Spin Maneuver
The erect spin maneuver is one of the scariest tricks in existence. In an upright or flat spin, the aircraft has no forward airspeed, leaving the flight control ineffective, so the airplane spins in a vertical motion till it reaches base level. Before the stunt, the stalled wings first drop, increasing the plane’s angle of attack.
The angle of attack (AOA) is the angle between an aircraft’s body’s line of reference to the flow of motion in a direction. This stunt can be performed unintentionally in the movement of a skidding uncoordinated turn toward the runway when landing.
The extremity of this turn is that improper coordination with a sufficient angle of attack can cause the airplane to stall, a condition referred to as cross-control stalling, which can be very dangerous when it occurs at a low altitude. Pilots are advised to learn the importance of always making coordinated turns to avoid danger. Only certified aircraft that have met specific criteria regarding stall and spins are allowed to fly this stunt.
6. Falling Leaf Maneuver
A falling leaf stunt (also known as a rudder stall or oscillation stall) is a maneuver in which the airplane stops flying mid-air and starts falling in a spin motion. During the stunt, the plane slips to one side, pauses for a second, then to the other, continuing the motion till it is close to base level. Since the spin is centered with the rudder, it’s countered the same when it spins in the other direction.
7. Cobra Maneuver
Cobra maneuver (also known as dynamic deceleration) is a dramatic maneuver that makes a flying plane at a moderate speed raise its body momentarily. This raise is to a vertical and slightly over vertical height, driving an extreme hike in the angle of attack.
This stalls the plane shortly, making a full-body air brake before dropping back to the normal position, which doesn’t require an effective change in altitude. To perform this stunt, the aircraft must be very swift to change its angle of attack without overloading its airframe.
It should have great engine thrust to maintain constant altitude throughout the maneuver. The stunt requires an almost accurate pitch control, alpha stability for the aircraft, then high expertise from the pilot.
8. Chandelle Maneuver
The chandelle maneuver involves the pilot moving at an angle of 180 degrees while climbing slightly. To begin the maneuver, the pilot must first roll the aircraft in the desired direction and establish a medium-banked turn.
This turn can be from 30 to 40 degrees, depending on the size of the aircraft in use. The angle of the bank must remain constant for the first 90 degrees while the pitch steadily increases. At the same time, the power is fully applied, and a smooth pitch-up is started.
At 90 degrees, the pitch angle (an angle between the velocity vector and the local magnetic field) at its maximum should be a bit close to the critical angle of attack at the level stall speed of the aircraft. During the second 90 degrees of flight, the pitch angle is held constant; it decreases gradually until it reaches 0 degrees (180 degrees from the start of the maneuver).
Final Takeaway on Aerial Show Stunts
In summary, acrobatic stunts make any aerial show fun and entertaining. To perform these wild tricks, the pilot needs experience flying in high altitudes and is advised to wash alone to prevent casualty. Expertise and certification in specific fields are required before flying, especially for the erect spin maneuver.
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