Book Description

This book is a guide both for beginners as well as improvers to model aircraft precision aerobatics, or F3A, competition focused on the UK. However, it is just as relevant anywhere else in the world as the issue of how to control an aerobatic model aircraft is not limited to a single geography! If you are not interested in entering competitions, this book will bring you some of the knowledge and techniques that you would only pick up by attending them. If you are sufficiently disciplined in your flying, there is no reason why you should not reach a good aerobatic standard after following the advice and guidance contained in this book.In short, this is the book I would like to have had when I took up aerobatics and first entered competitions. If like me, you have wanted to take up precision aerobatics but couldn't find any resources to help you, this is the book for you. The book covers the basics of starting aerobatic flying, from when you have just gone solo, to helping you to get ready to take up the challenge of flying in aerobatic competitions.The book contains advice on how to set up your aircraft covering for example: centre of gravity position; engine/motor thrust lines; and control throws. It then takes you through the basics of aerobatic manoeuvres with both diagrams and words. Once over this initial phase, you will get much more detail about set up and trimming as well as how to fly large smooth manoeuvres ultimately taking account of the impact of the wind on the flight. The book contains a chapter on mini training schedules that allow you to build up your skills before describing how to fly the entry level aerobatic competition schedule used in Great Britain. Finally, I have included references to how you can access the resources to help you to progress from a practical flying viewpoint.Peter Jenkins has been flying model aircraft since he was a teenager but only entered aerobatic competitions just over 10 years ago. He has organised and run a number of introductory courses to coach newcomers to start and others to improve their aerobatics. He continues to organise aerobatic competitions for the GB National League and to act as Contest Director. He is a qualified instructor and examiner for the UK's largest model flying association, the BMFA of which he was a Director for 6 years. He has also held a private pilots' licence and flew and instructed on full size gliders for many years. Peter currently flies the FAI(P) schedule in domestic competitions in GB.