Loops!

[Joe Messinger]

Hello,

I have heard several opinions as to how many loops (inside/outside) could be performed in one direction before a control problem arose.  Some say 3, some as many as 9.

Perhaps some of Stunt Hanger's pilots with much more experience than I can recommend a safe limit to loops of one direction.  I don't want to find out the "hard" way!

I'm using braided, stainless steel lines. .015 & .018 diameter.

Thanks,

Joe

[Jim Pollock]

Ummm,

That would really depend on the airplane and number of pounds of line tension.

A typical Nobler type of airplane at 40-50 ounces, I would say that you could do
about six or seven loops before the line winding would become somewhat of a
control issue.   

Of course the condition of the lines and line spacing plays a significant part
in how many loops can be done without any ill control response effects also. 

Jim Pollock   

[Paul Taylor]

2 for me.

But then I am just learning.

[Jim Thomerson]

The Old Time Stunt pattern calls for five.  I would guess you could get away with 15 or 20, but don't recall actually counting.   There is very little contact surface in contact with braided lines that they can wrap together several times with no noticeable change in control.  The problem with solids is that so much more surface is in contact and even 5 loops gets goosy if the lines are not squeaky clean.

[Bill Heher]

I learned to loop with a Ringmaster /.35, on .018 X 60. Not a lot of line tension and I often did 10 or more inside loops without feeling much difference in response. I'm sure I did 20+ multiple times. I couldn't do outsides so they tended to get wrapped up a bit. Things got better once I got outside loops, ( actually lazy 8s) so I didn't wind them up as much.

[L0U CRANE]

I'm with Bill H., here.

In addition to the factors mentioned, how clean the lines are, and how many curls or kinks they have, has a lot to do with it...

I'm sure I've put on 20 or more in the same direction, with minor, if any,stiffening up.

Don't anymore, though. I prize FREE moving controls too much.