Flying Skills of RC Aerobatic Maneuvers from James Ballard

James Ballard does an excellent job of talking you through each step of the most common aerobatic maneuvers with his great videos listed below.

A great way to learn and perfect these maneuvers without risking your plane is to practice on a RC flight simulator.
Some simulators have built in instructors who will step you through each maneuver. It’s just like having James here at your side stepping you through each aerobatic maneuver as you try them.

Make sure you have plenty of altitude when performing aerobatic flight maneuvers for the first time. These maneuvers may look easy, but the art of RC aerobatics is to execute each maneuver perfectly! A skilled pilot such as James makes it look all too easy. But believe me, it takes tons and tons of practice to execute these maneuvers perfectly.

Aerobatic Loop

The Inside Loop is one of the easiest RC aerobatic maneuvers. While flying into the wind at full throttle, gently apply elevator. Hold the elevator until the airplane rounds the top of the loop and becomes inverted. Cut the throttle to 1/4 or less as the airplane reaches the top of the loop.

Let the airplane free fall downward while holding the elevator. The goal is to reach the bottom of the loop at precisely the place where the airplane entered the loop.

It is very important to cut the throttle at the top of the loop. Many airplanes, especially trainers, are not designed for high G-forces and the wings will fold! Trust me, I learned this lesson the hard way…

Barrel Roll

While flying into the wind, apply a touch of elevator while applying either left or right aileron. When the airplane begins to roll you will need to add a touch of opposite rudder to keep the airplane straight. When the airplane becomes inverted you must apply slight down elevator to keep the airplane level.

If you are just learning, rolling with ailerons does not absolutely require opposite rudder. Without rudder input the roll will be “wobbly” and not straight. To perform a perfect barrel roll you will have to practice working the elevator and rudder together as the airplane rolls.

Believe it or not, these videos are actually not real, they’re videos taken from an RC simulator!

Stall Turn

The Stall Turn is also known as the “Hammerhead”. Start this maneuver by pulling the airplane into a vertical climb. Cut the throttle completely while applying full rudder. Apply slight down elevator to keep airplane straight as it spins around 180 degrees. Once the airplane has spun around, release the rudder as the airplane enters a dive.

Knife Edge

The Knife Edge maneuver is nothing more than flying the airplane on its side. You begin this maneuver by rolling the airplane onto its side with either left or right aileron. Once on its side, apply elevator in the opposite direction as the aileron was applied.

The rudder is what keeps the airplane in the air at this point. The rudder acts in the same way as the elevator does during level flight.

Immelman Turn

The Immelman Turn is an easy aerobatic maneuver. You start by performing a half loop. Apply either left or right aileron once you reach the top of the half loop to roll the airplane right-side-up. Complete this aerobatic RC maneuver by exiting with straight and level flight.

Split S Turn

This RC aerobatic maneuver is just the opposite of the Immelman Turn. Begin this maneuver with straight and level flight. Use the ailerons to roll 180 degrees. Once the airplane is inverted apply up elevator to perform a half loop. Finish this aerobatic RC maneuver by exiting with straight and level flight.

Cuban 8

Begin this RC aerobatic maneuver by performing 2/3 of a loop while headed into the wind. Exit the loop inverted, then roll 180 degrees. Continue into a second 2/3 loop. Exit the loop inverted and roll 180 degrees.

How to Perfect Aerobatic Maneuvers

The best and cheapest way to perfect these aerobatic maneuvers is to invest in a flight simulator.
Although simulators may seem expensive, they will actually save you a lot of money and grief by allowing you to train
your thumbs without putting your model at risk. Think about it, if practicing with a sim saves you just one crashed plane, it’s already paid for itself!

I have the
Phoenix Simulator and love it. I would recommend it to anybody.

Each year simulators get more advanced with better physics and graphics. You can save a fair amount of money by
picking up an older simulator on Ebay. You can’t go wrong with Phoenix or RealFlight. Esky makes a very affordable
low end sim if your strapped for cash.