DylanAviation

Teaching pilots to fly tail wheel aircraft and teaching aerobatics is very similar. The pilot must have command of the airplane to do either. Being in command includes controlling yaw and coordinating the use of rudder and ailerons together. The Dutch Roll is a great control coordination exercise. The Dutch Roll is simply rocking the wings, right? It seems easy enough, but the Dutch Roll can destroy your self esteem.

The Dutch Roll is about using your feet. If you do not fly a tail wheel airplane you have probably forgotten or never learned to use your feet when flying an airplane. Sure pilots talk about coordinated turns and as students they are taught that the rudder is for - well - ahaaa, you know - it is important.

The Dutch Roll is a great exercise, and it is all about controlling yaw. If you can not do a proper Dutch Roll, what makes you think:
• you can gently touch down on only one wheel and maintain control of your airplane in a strong, gusty cross wind;
• how can you correct your heading as you “float” inverted over the top of a loop?

Ok, so you fly tail draggers and you do a world class Dutch Roll. What is next? Consider the Dutch Roll – INVERTED!!
Click to see Dutch Roll video - www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeXD9Su_P5E