Helping to make rudder corrections more automatic

[Dave Dupre]

I’m looking for tips to help better visualize proper rudder direction. I just started up in Advanced this year, and rudder direction is still one of my biggest issues. Yes, I know. Burn a bunch of gas is the way to go, but I’m looking for ways to help make my practice better. Currently, I try and visualize the following:

- For top rudder on knife edge: See the gear, move rudder towards the nose. See the canopy, move the rudder towards the tail.
- On the vertical line: See the gear, push the tail with the rudder. See the canopy, steer the nose.

It works for me, but it also means I need to think.

Any good tips to help make practice sessions better?

[Vincente Bortone]

Check the K-Factor article . Open the February 2020. Page 19. You can download it in this web page. It is free publication:

https://www.nsrca.us/index.php/download-k-factors/2020

I think this is the best I have seen around in that particular subject.

Let's us know if works for you or if you have any questions.

Vicente "Vince" Bortone

[Dave Dupre]

Thank you Vince! Some good information in there. Happy to see Dan had the same suggestions as I use, plus several more.

[Earle Andrews]

It's mentioned in that article about pushing the nose or tail when inverted....and the plane is coming toward (nose) or away (tail).

Another mental shortcut here is when inverted and coming across the box (X - axis) and more or less in center-box position. Rudder in the same direction as the nose will always move you out, or away. Of course the opposite is true....rudder towards tail will track the plane in (towards you).

So....say you've just completed a turnaround and you're flying inverted from right to left, .....the nose is pointing left (direction of flight)...so rudder in the same direction as the nose (left) will yaw the plane out/away. Towards the tail will bring in in.

I've found this works well for my feeble brain to help maintain good track in crosswinds....of just a screwed up previous maneuver!!!

[Dave Dupre]

Thanks, Earle. These are the types of visualizations I can practice on the SIM before getting out and burning some gas. See you at Jack Stoval!