Lomcovák
The Lomcovák (pronounced: Lomzovak, stress on the first syllable, the á is spoken long) is an aerobatic figure for powered aircraft, which is often shown at air shows. The Lomcovák is not included in the Aresti catalog , which means that it is not a competitive figure. The Lomcovák was first shown by Czech aerobatic pilots in the 1950s.
description
The Lomcovák is initiated by initiating a pushed roll in an ascending line from the knife position. The aircraft then performs spectacular gyroscopic figures around all three axes, which usually also include a forward flip. The engine and propeller are extremely stressed by the gyroscopic forces that occur .
There are many variants of Lomcovák. Since the figure is not included in the Aresti catalog, there is no clear limit to what can still be considered a variant of Lomcovák and what must be considered a new figure.
assessment
Lomcovák divides the aerobatic community into two camps.
One camp claims that the Lomcovák can never really be controlled. After the initiation, the pilot is only a passenger until the aircraft somehow finds itself in a back spin, which is then turned off normally (a Lomcovák always ends in a back spin.) Since it is impossible to always give the initiation impulses absolutely the same, and then afterwards There is no longer any possibility of intervention, it is also impossible to fly the Lomcovák in a really predictable way. Aerobatics are precisely defined by the fact that given figures are flown exactly and in a controlled manner at all times, so the Lomcovák is fun, but it is not an aerobatic figure in the real sense. Eric Müller takes this point of view in his book Flight unlimited .
The other camp contradicts and claims that it is entirely possible to execute the Lomcovák and its variants in a predictable way. The critics just couldn't handle it. However, this camp also admits that the Lomcovák is only really mastered by very few pilots, and that at air shows mostly pure “random figures” are actually flown. Neil Williams takes this point of view in his book Aerobatics .
practice
The gyroscopic forces of the propeller play a major role in the Lomcovák. As a result, it can actually only be flown with fan guns. But if the aircraft is first set into rapid rotation around its longitudinal axis (i.e. a roll), the entire aircraft acts as a top, which makes it possible to fly Lomcovák-like figures with jets and even with gliders. With jets, however, the problem of the compressor stall and the associated flame-out always occurs with such figures.
The Italian aerobatic team Frecce Tricolori shows a kind of Lomcovák with their jet aircraft Aermacchi MB 339 .
Origin of the designation
In 1958, when Ladislav Bezák showed variations of the (up to then nameless) Lomcovák at an air show in Brno , a journalist asked his mechanic what kind of characters they were. He replied spontaneously and jokingly whether he didn't know "Lomcovák". There is no German equivalent for the Czech word “Lomcovák”, it describes the staggering walk of a drunkard. Since then this figure has been called Lomcovák. (Source: Ladislav Bezák)
Web links
Simple aerobatics: Chandelle | Lazy Eight | Looping | Spin | Turn
Advanced figures: downturn | Barrel roll | cracked role | controlled role | Humpty Bump | Immelmann | Loopingacht (Cuban eight) | Male (Tail-Slide) | Knife flight | Role circle | Inverted flight | Back circle
Special maneuvers: Autumn maneuvers | Cobra maneuvers | Kulbit | Lomcovák | Torquing | Zwirbelturm