Originally Posted by
Bug Smasher
Sweet! Works better than a slip, eh? :-D
Glad to see you're having fun! I just flew a rickety old Citabria with a roomate from west Louisiana back here to Atlanta, and I wish I took a camera. It's a nice change from the CRJ, seeing the country at 1,501 feet (over populated areas) and 95 MPH.
It turns out the best way to get this airplane down is to roll to 90, kick opposite rudder, pull to get 3G's on the G-meter and keep the bank at 90 all the way down through 9,000 feet. You put a wingtip on a spot on the ground somewhere and keep it there until the plane is at pattern. Speed gets up to 160 or so. It's a little hard on the rudder and I wouldn't do it in rough air but it's fine otherwise and way faster than a slip. Some skydiver planes have hydraulic over electric speed brakes that get down even faster.
Also, a disclaimer is in order- the airplane shown in these pictures is FAA field-approved for the activity shown and is structurally improved accordingly. Don't try this in a non-approved airplane. Structural damage or possible loss of life may result.