Zwirbelturm

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Zwirbelturm is an aerobatic figure that is not included in the Aresti catalog. The show figure, invented in 1974 by the Swiss aerobatic pilot Eric Müller, is not shown in competitions and is rarely flown by other pilots.

description

A twirl tower works as follows: First, the aircraft is pulled from normal level flight into a vertical upward line. This is followed by a controlled roll, to which a butted one is added. The aircraft is now allowed to turn freely so that it “spins upwards”, so to speak, until the forward energy is used up. At the highest point, the aircraft rotates about one more revolution in the horizontal position, practically at a standstill, before it begins to fall down again. This stationary turning is the real highlight of the figure for both the audience and the pilot. This is followed by several revolutions of a flat spin before the figure is returned to level flight. The figure is perfect when the pitch of the aircraft gradually decreases during the upward movement and the horizontal position is reached exactly at the highest point. This is achieved through the well-measured reduction in the performance lever.

In order to achieve a long upward line, the input speed must be selected very high. The figure can also be done in a simplified form with gliders, but then the first controlled role is dispensed with and a pushed one is initiated directly, since otherwise the energy is not sufficient for a satisfactory execution. Even so, the energy is sufficient for a maximum of about two revolutions before the airplane falls back down.

Eric Müller, who was an architect full-time, chose the name Zwirbelturm, as the figure is reminiscent of a tower with a spiral-shaped (twirled) roof, which is also called the Zwirbelturm in architecture.

Addition: The flying of the figure is described differently in the literature - also in the above text. With the Acrostar, the figure is started by pulling up from about 250 km / h. After the vertical roll on the right, the stick moves quickly to the right and forward, and only when the aircraft flattens out the foot on the left ( rudder ) is added. Everything at full throttle until the aircraft is horizontal and turns to the left in this position. Now reduce the throttle and decide whether to continue with a flat spin or a normal spin. Müller showed this with flat spins, the figure then flown accordingly high. For demonstrations, normal spin is better to hold 2 to 3 revolutions under control and can be set lower.

See also

swell

  • Eric Müller, Arnette Carson: Flight unlimited '95 . Penrose Press, 1994, ISBN 0-620-18774-3 .

Web links