degree point is attained, this is where most people give up on this maneuver. You are more than 50% of the way there.

All that is left is TIMING. If you have practiced the 0-180 degree portion of the Rolling Harrier, you have started with the TIMING aspect of what makes this maneuver so difficult. You are there, but just lack the confidence to finish because you made one mistake and the airplane flies off heading, but we started relatively high and slow. From here on out, it is up to you how bad you want it. No one person can teach you how to finish. All I can do is help you with the basics, and can't emphasize enough to learn the basics and what the Rolling Harrier is derived from. It took me 200 flights and countless hours on the simulator to understand the dynamics of the Rolling Harrier.
Rolling Harriers: The Finer Points

Aircraft setup is very important to learning and understanding what your model is doing at any given time. In the 3D setup on my transmitter, I have 140% ailerons, 140% elevator and 140% rudder. These values are the maximum that are allowed, but are toned down to match the pattern rates near neutral. (i.e.. between 50-70% expo) I fly my aircraft on one switch with two rates. One being Pattern and the other being 3D. It is my feeling that the flipping of switches deters from the task at hand, and as we have all either seen or heard, can cause a crash.

The ailerons on my aircraft are among the biggest out there. They span near the entire length of the wing with 45 degrees of throw in either direction. This is a very high roll rate, that I challenge anyone to match. It also aids in the ability to stop the Rolling Harrier in an instant, and begin in the opposite direction of rotation. It is very important to practice this with an airplane that is suited for this type of flight. Preferably an aircraft that is light, with high power to weight. The bigger the diameter of the prop, the more stable your high alpha maneuvers.

Once you have mastered the Basics of Rolling Harrier flight, it is time to start increasing the roll rate, and developing faster reflexes to to changing altitude via power applications rather than control inputs. Most people think that the control value is what keeps the aircraft at a certain altitude. To tell you the truth, it is a combination of power application, control input, and feeling of the moment. I know that it may seem to much, but after 250 flights, you won't even think about it and will be explaining it to you kids some day.

Rolling Harriers: Going the Opposite Direction

View the Video of
Mark Leseberg at
Tucson Shootout

*courtesy of ScaleAerobatics.com OK, we have the Rolling Harrier all practiced up and now we are ready to go the opposite direction. Get ready for an amazing "mind game" that will make you want to give it up. I have been working on this for two years, and finally have found how to present it well in the Freestyle Program. It is time to repeat the entire process over again while trying to maintain the ability to hold the transmitter without throwing it.

Rolling Harriers: Conclusion

It is very easy for me to site here and explain to you what happens in this maneuver, but the best way is to practice it in the simulator. If you can do it on the simulator, it is possible in real life. I Guarantee it! Go and crash all the airplanes you like on the simulator. It sure is cheaper than a 30-40% aircraft. Watch all the video you can, and emulate the Rolling Harrier from your favorite pilot. Practice doesn't make perfect, Perfect Practice makes Perfect!


Courtesy of Mark Leseberg, Jr.
www.marklesebergjr.com