MMMmmmagister
Hi Airbedane!
Thank you for keeping this thread alive - I like to think that there are plenty more afficianados out there, hopefully soon to come on line so it is important to keep it running.
THe information gleaned thus far has been fascinating and will be preserved for future generations.
Sideslipping the Magister - -
I have a detailed pre-war test report from Farnborough.
Not only is sideslipping near the ground dangerous, it is also completely unecessary in view of the highly efficient flaps.
It seems that a number of young trainees mysteriously speared in on the approach whilst flying Maggies and the Air Ministry were sufficiently concerned to get Farnborough 'on the case.'
Basically, as you introduce yaw with the rudder, the slab-sided fuselage begins to blank the airflow over the tail. However, beyond a certain degree of rudder deflection, there is a sudden, alarming pitch-down. It gets worse because in this condition, the elevator authority is suddenly and dramatically reduced too.
It is therefore easy to understand what was killing our boys.
Sideslipping was the norm in those days, taught by old-school 'dyed in the wool' instructors. So, our young student - taught to come in high and sideslip flapless a la Tiger Moth (we'll experiment with those flappy things later lad) would experience a sudden pitchdown near the ground and would haul on the stick (a real pull in view of the reduced authority) to compensate.
That was fine until he kicked the drift off. Imagine the aerodynamic considerations here - landing approach (ie near the stall), lots of up elavator - kick the drift off - sudden increase in elevator effectiveness - flick roll into the deck.... Goodnight Vienna.
The accidents were eradicated by this evaluation and supported by proper training.
Once you know about it - you simply avoid it and remind yourself (and curious passengers/ budding Maggie pilots alike) at altitude why you shouldn't do it near the ground.
Another 'quirk' - for want of a better expression - is the vacuum operated flaps.
If the engine quits, they don't come down. An engine failure will therefore focus the mind, especially in view of the sideslip thing.
Does that answer it for you?
Classic Wings Down Under - I plan to start another thread to publicise this excellent Antipodean Journal. However, the latest issue features the Magister. The RAAF were considering licence production but decided on the CAC Wacket instead.
A 'static' Maggie survives in NZ - one of 2 impressed into the RNZAF.
All the best
HP