Description
This article is from the Aviation
Aerobatics FAQ, by Dr. Guenther Eichhorn with numerous
contributions by others.
03 Aerobatics Books
Probably the most popular instructional book for learning aerobatics is "Fly
For Fun", by Bill Thomas (available from EAA). It does a very good job of
explaining the maneuvers and how to fly them. The book has a couple of
shortcomings, however. One is that it doesn't go much beyond the maneuvers
themselves into other things you'll probably want to know. The other is that
it assumes you're flying a Pitts, which isn't the best choice for beginning
acro. This does make a difference, as performance characteristics and visual
cues are quite different than a lower performance trainer, such as a
Decathlon. If you're interested in competition, Thomas' "Fly For Fun To Win"
is also recommended.
The second book is Mike Goulian's and Geza Szurovy's new book, "Basic
Aerobatics". Few people on this list had seen the book yet. It also does a
good job of describing the maneuvers, but it also goes into lots of other
subjects like physiology and conditioning, safety, aerobatic preflights, and
costs of ownership. It also assumes you're in a Decathlon, which is probably
what you'll be flying.
Another book is Primary Aerobatic Flight Training with Military
Techniques" by Lt. Col. Art Medore, USAFR (ret). It has five sections
which include detailed ground study on a variety of topics and a
curriculum for 12 flight lessons. It also offers a section on
transition from tricycle gear to tail-draggers. There are appendices
for manufacturers' recommended entry speeds for maneuvers covered in
the text. The aircraft covered are: Beech Musketeer Sport III, Cessna
Aerobat, Champion Citabria, Beech T-34, Stearman PT-17, and North
American T-6.
The lesson curriculum begins with simple warm-up exercises (air work),
military chandelles, and lufberry turns. Advanced maneuvers covered
at the end include the reverse Cuban eight, the avalanche, inverted
spins, hesitation rolls, and inverted turns.
Simple sequences of maneuvers are covered and there is an introduction to
Aresti diagrams.
Other books that people seem to like are:
* "Roll Around a Point", by Duane Cole
* "The Conquest of Lines and Symmetry", by Duane Cole
* "Aerobatics", by Neil Williams
* "Aerobatics Today", by Bob O'Dell
* "Flight Unlimited", by Eric Mueller
* "The Basic Aerobatic Manual", by Bill Kershner
* "Stalls, Spins and Safety", by Sammy Mason
The new second edition printing is now available from a dealer (and
aerobatic pilot) in England.
Alan Cassidy
Tharn
18, Woodhurst Road.
Maidenhead
Berkshire SL6 8TF
Tel: +44-1628 37732 (evenings only)
FAX: +44-1628 777083
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