Aerobatics Briefings
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Aerobatics Briefings
Dear all,
After a year of slow, but sure training, I'm finally taking up somebody (a landlubber) for a little aerobatics, and am really undecided as to how to brief them.
Part of me wants to give them the blow by blow - safety, G forces and what to expect, description of actual maneuvers etc...
And part of me says "too much information", it may distress somebody probably a bit apprehensive to begin with. So take them up, go gently, and let them enjoy it.
What do you reckon?
After a year of slow, but sure training, I'm finally taking up somebody (a landlubber) for a little aerobatics, and am really undecided as to how to brief them.
Part of me wants to give them the blow by blow - safety, G forces and what to expect, description of actual maneuvers etc...
And part of me says "too much information", it may distress somebody probably a bit apprehensive to begin with. So take them up, go gently, and let them enjoy it.
What do you reckon?
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The best way I have found is to discus what you are going to do on the ground because it will give them time to contemplate what they are going to do and affording them the opportunity to ask any questions on the ground and not in the air which will mean that you can dedicate all your concentration to flying the aeroplane.
Once in the air make sure you do and say all your checks which will fill your pax with confidence. Once you are ready to start tell them what you are going to do, and more importantly where you are looking this will help them orientate themselves which might alleviate the need for a sick bag. Always ask how they are feeling and as soon as/if they feel ill STOP, if your pax has any flying experience let them take control and that will hopefully take their mind of feeling ill.
Most of all pick your day; make sure the WX is fine, there is nothing worse than a bumpy ride before you even start. But more than that relax and enjoy, there is nothing better than introducing someone to aeros.
Enjoy and Fly safe,
Ed's
Once in the air make sure you do and say all your checks which will fill your pax with confidence. Once you are ready to start tell them what you are going to do, and more importantly where you are looking this will help them orientate themselves which might alleviate the need for a sick bag. Always ask how they are feeling and as soon as/if they feel ill STOP, if your pax has any flying experience let them take control and that will hopefully take their mind of feeling ill.
Most of all pick your day; make sure the WX is fine, there is nothing worse than a bumpy ride before you even start. But more than that relax and enjoy, there is nothing better than introducing someone to aeros.
Enjoy and Fly safe,
Ed's
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Tell them it will be a bit like a roller coaster ride but more fun. Do not brief them on individual manouvers unless they ask, though you can say "we will probably do a loop, barrel roll and stall turn" detail is best done afterwards when they say "what did we do". Make sure they have eaten, though preferably not too much and not too greasy. Ensure they do the belt up correctly (tight as possible on the lap,comfortably but not overtight on the shoulders) and brief them that if they do feel unwell let you know and you will stop the manouvering.
If they do feel unwell during the flight, fly straight and level, make sure they have a bag handy (I use a plastic one, the airline paper ones leak) and start heading home, getting them to fly at this stage will take their minds off feeling unwell and they may recover after a short fly round enough to continue.
Remember you are doing this for them to enjoy and showing how good you are may just leave them wishing they had not come, so try and keep the manouvers smooth and gentle, hopefully then they will come back with a big grin.
Have fun
If they do feel unwell during the flight, fly straight and level, make sure they have a bag handy (I use a plastic one, the airline paper ones leak) and start heading home, getting them to fly at this stage will take their minds off feeling unwell and they may recover after a short fly round enough to continue.
Remember you are doing this for them to enjoy and showing how good you are may just leave them wishing they had not come, so try and keep the manouvers smooth and gentle, hopefully then they will come back with a big grin.
Have fun
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Good advice.
How far would you go on a first outing?
I'll take it for granted that wing overs, steep turns, aileron rolls, barrel rolls and loops are OK.
Stall turns are more scary than puke making. So yes.
But what about negative G - Slow rolls and inverted flight?
1/2 cubans & Reverse 1/2 cubans?
Spins?
How far would you go on a first outing?
I'll take it for granted that wing overs, steep turns, aileron rolls, barrel rolls and loops are OK.
Stall turns are more scary than puke making. So yes.
But what about negative G - Slow rolls and inverted flight?
1/2 cubans & Reverse 1/2 cubans?
Spins?
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Also, when using the bag, remember that when you breathe back in, take the bag away from your mouth, otherwise you will ingest what you just used you entire body to expel.... ask me how I know this...! (It wasn't me, but I could hear the guy in the back seat...).
Another piece of advice is that once you start to feel ill, you are unlikely to start feeling better until you are on the ground, ie it rarely seems to get better by simply toning it down.
Another piece of advice is that once you start to feel ill, you are unlikely to start feeling better until you are on the ground, ie it rarely seems to get better by simply toning it down.
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Good advice.
How far would you go on a first outing?
I'll take it for granted that wing overs, steep turns, aileron rolls, barrel rolls and loops are OK.
Stall turns are more scary than puke making. So yes.
But what about negative G - Slow rolls and inverted flight?
1/2 cubans & Reverse 1/2 cubans?
Spins?
How far would you go on a first outing?
I'll take it for granted that wing overs, steep turns, aileron rolls, barrel rolls and loops are OK.
Stall turns are more scary than puke making. So yes.
But what about negative G - Slow rolls and inverted flight?
1/2 cubans & Reverse 1/2 cubans?
Spins?
Good advice in all previous posts.
Would like to suggest however that, in my experience, the ones to avoid on the first trip are definitely stall turns and spins. (By this I mean, amongst other manouevres, not as stand-alone exercises.)
Unless the "candidate" is obviously having no trouble coping, these are guaranteed to fill the bag, glove, "comfort module", at some stage, right up to shutting down !
Its a good idea to "read" your passenger within the first few minutes and , if any signs of discomfort, as suggested, STOP.
Just as a matter of interest, one mate had a macho stude who continually assured he was fine until, after a short "very quiet period", proceeded to honk so violently he blew the bottom clean out of the bag.
Once upon a time the stude would have had to clean up the aeroplane, including the instrument panel (!).........not this guy !.............. "Its your fault and you're being paid !!!
Rgds, Sleeve.
Would like to suggest however that, in my experience, the ones to avoid on the first trip are definitely stall turns and spins. (By this I mean, amongst other manouevres, not as stand-alone exercises.)
Unless the "candidate" is obviously having no trouble coping, these are guaranteed to fill the bag, glove, "comfort module", at some stage, right up to shutting down !
Its a good idea to "read" your passenger within the first few minutes and , if any signs of discomfort, as suggested, STOP.
Just as a matter of interest, one mate had a macho stude who continually assured he was fine until, after a short "very quiet period", proceeded to honk so violently he blew the bottom clean out of the bag.
Once upon a time the stude would have had to clean up the aeroplane, including the instrument panel (!).........not this guy !.............. "Its your fault and you're being paid !!!
Rgds, Sleeve.
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I suggest starting with steep turns and pull 2+ G just to show them what it feels like. Then a roll and a loop where you keep +ve G. Stall turns next if they still feel OK. Getting them to do to do/help with rolls and loops will avoid them feeling sick.
Lots of fresh air and an almost full stomach also helps avoid airsickness.
Be warned though, airsickness can occur even after aeros have finished.
I took my brother in law for a flight. He enjoyed all the rolls, loops stall turns inverted flight etc. We then headed back. When I was decending in the pattern he said he didn't feel well. I thought he was joking as we were straight and level downwind. The next thing is the sound of the sick bag being vigorously exercised. I had forgotten to tell him to move his microphone if he felt sick. It was difficult to concentrate on landing the aircraft.
He did say he enjoyed it and would do it again!
Lots of fresh air and an almost full stomach also helps avoid airsickness.
Be warned though, airsickness can occur even after aeros have finished.
I took my brother in law for a flight. He enjoyed all the rolls, loops stall turns inverted flight etc. We then headed back. When I was decending in the pattern he said he didn't feel well. I thought he was joking as we were straight and level downwind. The next thing is the sound of the sick bag being vigorously exercised. I had forgotten to tell him to move his microphone if he felt sick. It was difficult to concentrate on landing the aircraft.
He did say he enjoyed it and would do it again!
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In my limited experience (of people feeling unwell, that is- I've taken plenty of people for their first aerobatics over the years with no problems) it is indeed AFTER the aeros have finished that the trouble starts!
So, FWIW, here's my tip - do the aeros nearer to the end of the trip when you are not far from your destination airfield. The shorter the flight time after the g-forces, the less likely you'll get a barfer!!
WP
So, FWIW, here's my tip - do the aeros nearer to the end of the trip when you are not far from your destination airfield. The shorter the flight time after the g-forces, the less likely you'll get a barfer!!
WP
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Oh...one thing I forgot is make sure barfer is in the front cockpit. Alan C made the mistake of having someone in the back and got lunch and breakfast all down his neck.
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It's a CAP10, should be no more than just a bit down the side 
As this thread has degenerated to the barfing aspects (I should have guessed). Given a scenario of the victim/barfer choosing to hurl straight ahead while in the middle of a 2G 75 degree steep turn to the left (ie they are above you), where is the vomit going to go?
a) windcreen, instrument panel (force of barf is likely to overcome all over competing forces)
b) all over the place (competing forces will ensure a mess)
c) on the pilot (it's gravity init)
d) on the passenger window (centralfugal forces init)
As this thread has degenerated to the barfing aspects (I should have guessed). Given a scenario of the victim/barfer choosing to hurl straight ahead while in the middle of a 2G 75 degree steep turn to the left (ie they are above you), where is the vomit going to go?
a) windcreen, instrument panel (force of barf is likely to overcome all over competing forces)
b) all over the place (competing forces will ensure a mess)
c) on the pilot (it's gravity init)
d) on the passenger window (centralfugal forces init)
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Depends on your flying, mate. If the turn is in balance it will go straight ahead, but with a slightly steeper downward gradient due to the g.
If not, it will "follow the slipball"! : 
p.s. sorry to be one of the thread "degenerators", but, in my experience, this does seem to be the major concern for prospective passengers!
If not, it will "follow the slipball"! :
p.s. sorry to be one of the thread "degenerators", but, in my experience, this does seem to be the major concern for prospective passengers!
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I thought I would reply on how it went with my first aerobatics victim.
Really, it was a breeze. As advised, I didn't bother briefing on the actual exercises. But spent a bit of time on the safety harness and other safety aspects to demonstrate that I took it seriously. I discussed briefly what to expect with G forces, but didn't mention or even point out the sick bag. Advised her that the best thing was to relax and go with the flow.
Then went up...
She didn't seem to have a nerve in her body. I started nice and easy - wingovers, steep turns and aileron rolls. Got nothing but a genuine smile on her face, though I didn't get the impression she was that impressed.
Thought, Ok - take it up a gear. loops, stall turns and barrel rolls. Still the nice smile. "Are you OK". "Yes, that was nice" was the response in a 'is that all?' sort of way. "Do you feel OK about slightly more intensity?" I asked. "Absolutely".
Next gear. 1/2 cubans and reverse 1/2 cubans, followed by inverted flight and slow rolls. Not a flicker other than the smile.
I said: "OK that's about it". Let's do what you liked the most again and then go home. Answer "the upside down bit"!!! Cue more inverted, and slow rolls.
"Fancy a spin?". "Sure".
Well, I'm sure they are all not like that. I think the approach is right though. Start gentle and step it up, but read their faces and reactions regularly, and make the judgement how far to go.
Really, it was a breeze. As advised, I didn't bother briefing on the actual exercises. But spent a bit of time on the safety harness and other safety aspects to demonstrate that I took it seriously. I discussed briefly what to expect with G forces, but didn't mention or even point out the sick bag. Advised her that the best thing was to relax and go with the flow.
Then went up...
She didn't seem to have a nerve in her body. I started nice and easy - wingovers, steep turns and aileron rolls. Got nothing but a genuine smile on her face, though I didn't get the impression she was that impressed.
Thought, Ok - take it up a gear. loops, stall turns and barrel rolls. Still the nice smile. "Are you OK". "Yes, that was nice" was the response in a 'is that all?' sort of way. "Do you feel OK about slightly more intensity?" I asked. "Absolutely".
Next gear. 1/2 cubans and reverse 1/2 cubans, followed by inverted flight and slow rolls. Not a flicker other than the smile.
I said: "OK that's about it". Let's do what you liked the most again and then go home. Answer "the upside down bit"!!! Cue more inverted, and slow rolls.
"Fancy a spin?". "Sure".
Well, I'm sure they are all not like that. I think the approach is right though. Start gentle and step it up, but read their faces and reactions regularly, and make the judgement how far to go.
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Just tell them how to get out if I say 'Jump', and how to use the parachute. Tell them if that happens good luck. Apart from that it's no different to what I tell them before going around the pattern. They know if they don't like it then will I stop doing it and take them home, and that saying they want to stop doesn't bother me at all.
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Many pax will be game for aeros on the ground yet may change their mind as soon as they get airborne. Steep turns as mentioned earlier are great, however a nervous/anxious pax may find it unblances them. Another fun one is to do a small push over, which can be made fun to demonstrate 0g. It's good if you use a glove or something similar placed on the dash. This tends to give the pax something else to focus on (i.e watching for the floating glove) rather than sit there waiting for the G to kick in. I have found this is a good introduction as you get a bit of positive and also momentary 0g and can also put a little bit of -ve if required into one little fun maneouvre. I also find its good because it's in a straight line, as with loops - great for 1st timers.
A good cure for queasiness is to get your pax to look as far as they can into the distance as this focuses the mind on balancing the ears. A good trick is to find something quite far away and to get them to fly towards it.
Different things work for different people so find what suits you and have fun
A good cure for queasiness is to get your pax to look as far as they can into the distance as this focuses the mind on balancing the ears. A good trick is to find something quite far away and to get them to fly towards it.
Different things work for different people so find what suits you and have fun