Aerobatics In the C 152 Aerobat

[Wayne Boonzaier]

Aerobatics in a Cessna 152

I have not posted this in the aerobatics forum because it is relevant to GA pilots that might be toying with the idea of doing an aerobatics course but are intimidated by the idea of doing it in a Pitts or believe that it is way too expensive….

The Cessna aerobat has been labelled the worst aerobatic airplane on the planet not so…

Last year March I bought one to complete my PPL, and hopefully have a bit of aerobatic fun, my expectations with regard to the aerobatics bit were low to say the least.

After about 15 hours of PPL training I went and did a basic aerobatics course WOW ! What huge amounts of fun , she completes aileron-rolls, barrel-rolls , Cuban 8’s and almost any other + G manoeuvre you can dream up easily , although energy needs to be well managed, and timing needs to be spot on… The manoeuvres are slow compared to most other aerobatic aircraft, but huge amounts of fun nevertheless.

The aerobat snap-rolls beautifully, 1 or 2 in a row, the snap break is clean as a whistle from 90 MPH with the role rate approaching 360 degrees per second with 0 loss of altitude. , during this manoeuvre, you feel like your’ flying a big aerobatic beastie like an extra.

As far as competition goes , I would imagine that one is at a distinct disadvantage due to the limited exterior view and having to contend with a yolk rather than a stick, but that didn’t seem to stop Glen Dell and a host of other not so famous pilots from winning the sportsman’s class and placing 2nd in the intermediate class between 1980 and 1990 beating can you believe it Pitts Specials, and the Decathlons

Check out the National Aerobatic championship archives
http://www.aerobatics.co.za/index.php?o ... Itemid=184


In the right hands as the results show the 150 aerobat is a capable little aerobatics aircraft for the price of an abinitio basic trainer.

I hope to start flying aerobatic comps next year and I can’t help wondering whether my little red aerobat will be able to out fly some of the more capable aircraft like the Pits and yaks in the sportsman’s class in 2013.

As far as price, running expenses and fuel burn go the aerobat offers great bang for the buck … go and fly one with an aerobatics instructor you will be pleasantly surprised…

[V5 - LEO]

Interesting Wayne, do you perhaps have the specs available that class the C152 and the C152 Aerobat in their different categories? Would be ineteresting to know what structural/mechanical upgrades were done to set them apart.

[Wayne Boonzaier]

The aerobat is certified + 6 - 3 and is about 12 kg's heavier than a standard 152.

The wing struts are notably thicker than the standard aircraft.

I’m not sure what else was done to beef up the aircraft , but there seem to be a whole host of subtle differences that I read about but don’t have at my fingertips

[V5 - LEO]

Thanks, please do post more info when you have some - enjoy your flying.

[Snoopy]

Quick safety question.

When one buys an Aerobat 2nd hand for aerobatic use, do you guys have it corrosion checked as a prerequisite ?

And how would you know if the aircraft has been overstressed before? Bar a visual inspection of the airframe.

[Wayne Boonzaier]

Hi Snoopy yes I had the aircraft Xrayed from prop to tail , and intend to do so once a year at MPI

The liklyhood of the aircraft bieng overstressed seems to be quiet low , from loop entry speed of 140 MPH try as I might she wont pull more than 3.8 G's , unless one was in a high speed dive with 170 mph and realy yanked back on the stick it seems difficult to even get close to the 6 G limit.

[noelotten]

If you check through the results throughout the 1970s you will see many more C 152 Aerobats in the listings.

Noel

[Darrell Lush]

Whatever you do don't try and spin it.......some would have you know that C152's are notoriously dangerous when it comes to spinning...

[Ray W]

You should get together with John Rheeder at BaraG - he's got a C150 Aerobat and loves every minute of it.

[Wayne Boonzaier]

Whatever you do don't try and spin it.......some would have you know that C152's are notoriously dangerous when it comes to spinning...

Ya well one cant do aerobatics if you are not comfortable with spinining, she misbehaved once in the spin ( and I think it was because of a sloppy recovery on my part) but the application of outspin aerolon brought her out imidiatly within 1/2 a rotation > handy to know. I make a point of doing at least 2-3 3 turn spins every time I fly , and there dosnt seem to be a problem,

Jim once pointed out that if the rigging on a 172 is out there can be problems with spin recovery probably the same for a 152 Aerobat so just look after the COG and the wing rigging and cable tention and all should be fine.

I have absolutly no problem spinning her its realy is fun especialy from the top of the loop

[Wayne Boonzaier]

If you check through the results throughout the 1970s you will see many more C 152 Aerobats in the listings.

Noel

Noel I see you were right up there in second place in the unlimited class at one point in your pitts

I also see Stew Davidson got claped in his Pitts S2A by none other than 4, 150 aerobat pilots in 1987

It seems that no 150 aerobats have competed since 1990 , so it will be interesting to see what can be done about that next year.

[Wayne Boonzaier]

You should get together with John Rheeder at BaraG - he's got a C150 Aerobat and loves every minute of it.

Hi Ray thanks that would be great ! do you have contact details for John Rheeder ?

Im sure I could learn alot from him , and it would be nice to have a fellow 150 aerobat enthusiast to discuss things with.

Regards

Wayne

[Darrell Lush]

Jim once pointed out that if the rigging on a 172 is out there can be problems with spin recovery probably the same for a 152 Aerobat so just look after the COG and the wing rigging and cable tention and all should be fine.

I have absolutly no problem spinning her its realy is fun especialy from the top of the loop

Thats particularly true about C 152's as well. If the rigging is wrong, a variety spin characteristics can change. One C 152 (ZS-KGB) in particular that I used to fly would only spin to the right. One would have to literally force it to spin to the left..all to do with some damage she had previously sustained.

[Snoopy]

Whatever you do don't try and spin it.......some would have you know that C152's are notoriously dangerous when it comes to spinning...

you mean new SPLs spinning a 152 are notoriously dangerous

Otherwise I must count my lucky stars for surviving them all, or I trust my friends too much

Thanks for the feedback Wayne.

[noelotten]

Noel I see you were right up there in second place in the unlimited class at one point in your pitts

I also see Stew Davidson got claped in his Pitts S2A by none other than 4, 150 aerobat pilots in 1987

It seems that no 150 aerobats have competed since 1990 , so it will be interesting to see what can be done about that next year.

I have had my share of 'silverware' in aerobatic contests!

Go to this thread started by Sideslip which lists the results of National aerobatic contests going back to the 1960s. Look at how many different pilots flew and placed high-up in C 152s ..... plenty! And also Tigers and Fournier RF4s.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=89820

Throughout the 1970s we had a pilot at Baragee, Lucio Vasylenko, who used to fly a Blannik Glider in many of our club and regional contests .... and he regularly placed in the top half of the draw. He also flew a Stampe, Fournier RF4 and Pitts S-1S in national contests and won a few 'pots and and cups'!

Noel