HUNTER, RUDDER PROBLEM?

steelsporran · Post by **steelsporran** » 19 May 2007, 06:50

Is there a rudder disconnect or something I don't know about on DG's Mk 6?
When rudder is applied the a/c yaws several degrees in the direction required for about 1sec then slowly yaws back in the opposite direction for as long as the initial rudder input is maintained. Then when the rudder is centered the yaw quickly continues about a further 10 degrees before stopping. Wings are level throughout and A/P is off, disconnecting stick and using keyboard makes no difference.
HELP!

snave · Post by **snave** » 19 May 2007, 10:37

Why would you try to induce Dutch Roll on a swept wing fighter, unless you were a test pilot? Vectoring in forward flight is best left to Harriers and occasional Russian interceptors.

steelsporran · Post by **steelsporran** » 20 May 2007, 03:29

and there was me thinking you just moved the pedal thingy...

snave · Post by **snave** » 20 May 2007, 09:55

Heck no. Co-ordinated turns are for the birds. Swept wings are "crank 'em and yank 'em."

I'm sure Peter will pop by and tell you exactly how much rudder co-ordination was required in Hunters...

petermcleland · Post by **petermcleland** » 20 May 2007, 12:15

snave wrote:I'm sure Peter will pop by and tell you exactly how much rudder co-ordination was required in Hunters...

For normal flight the rudder pedals are just footrests. For taxying they are used to direct your braking to the appropriate wheel.

For aerobatic flight they would be useful if you were brave enough to attempt a Stall Turn. They are not necessary for rapid rolls but for a good accurate slow roll a very small amount of top rudder needs to be fed on as you pass the first 90 degrees and off again by the time you are inverted. The other top rudder needs to be fed on for the last bit (a little more this time) and off again by the end of the roll.

The best slow roll that I ever saw, was perfomed by Ken Goodwin in the Hunter...It took the entire length of the airport and was flown at about 270 knots and a wonderfully precise height throughout the manoeuvre, of less that 100 feet :shock: I will always remember it and I certainly never considered that my skills were enough to emanate it

Nigel H-J · Post by **Nigel H-J** » 20 May 2007, 14:40

The best slow roll that I ever saw, was perfomed by Ken Goodwin in the Hunter...It took the entire length of the airport and was flown at about 270 knots and a wonderfully precise height throughout the manoeuvre, of less that 100 feet I will always remember it and I certainly never considered that my skills were enough to emanate it

I think you are being a bit too modest there Peter!!

snave · Post by **snave** » 20 May 2007, 18:29

Thanks Peter.

Told you he'd be by - inverted, as usual... :heaven:

petermcleland · Post by **petermcleland** » 20 May 2007, 19:28

I was unable to find much about Ken Goodwin on the Web but here is one which has a photo of him...The second picture down:-

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/dianabw5.html

and this mention of the same flight:-

LADIES OF THE SOUND BARRIER
By Doris Rich and Ann Wood Kelly

The year was 1963 and the Two Jackies had been hot competitors for years. One was our own Jackie Cochran (JC) and the other was Jacqueline Auriol (JA), daughter in-law of the then President of France. They each took on the sound barrier and each got through it, but JC was the first on March 12, 1963, in a Starfighter (solo). JA soon followed on June 14, 1963 again solo. Diana Barnato-Walker of the ATA, on August 26, 1963, achieved her goal as well in a Lightening (a dual configuration) with Squadron Leader Ken Goodwin as check pilot.

People would always remember meeting Ken and would invariably remark on his rather bloodshot eyes...He did used to push a lot of negative G :think:

steelsporran · Post by **steelsporran** » 21 May 2007, 03:11

Thankyou all, I will just have to keep practising those approaches.

Peter: re KG, I signed the guest book at this site: http://www.rafjever.org/index.htm of which he is president, and got an email telling me he was still going strong (negative g must be good for you!)
The hairiest thing I ever saw him do was a roll into inverted climb from take-off where the wingtip didn't clear the runway by much.

petermcleland · Post by **petermcleland** » 21 May 2007, 12:14

steelsporran...I enjoyed that site very much and enjoyed those references to Ken Goodwin. I also watched many video clips from an old 8mm film that brought back happy memories :dance:

EDIT...Crikey, I've been the whole day at that Jever site and have found many old friends (most still with us)...I've just contacted one of them and chatted on the phone :dance: