by: Miles Simmons

Straight Flight The model must be brought exactly parallel to the flight path and flown in an absolutely straight and level path. (Distance does not matter.) Downgrades:
  1. Plane deviates left or right.
  2. Does not hold constant altitude.
  3. Gallops in yaw, roll, or pitch.
Inverted Flight The model shall fly along a line inverted. Inverted Flight may be downgraded because:
  1. Turns or wiggles during inverted flight.
  2. Change in altitude.
  3. Gallops in pitch, yaw, or roll.
  4. Flight not along straight flight out path.
Before we start dissecting the maneuvers, a word from your friendly webmaster about aligning your aircraft. It is vitally important that you do everything in your power to ensure that your plane is set up to perform the next maneuver That includes all of the following:
bulletWings perfectly LEVEL
bulletFlight path parallel to the runway
bulletAltitude constant
I cannot emphasize strongly enough how important these things are to the Novice class flier. They WILL make the difference between scoring well and scoring badly. If you need to go WAAAAY out or go out to take a second try at getting aligned, DO IT! It may make you feel a little foolish at first, but it will allow you to improve. Take your time and get perfectly aligned before execution the maneuver. OK, down off the soapbox and on to the maneuvers.

bulletStraight Flight : The model must be brought exactly parallel to the flight path and flown in an absolutely straight and level path.
bulletStraight Flight Out and Inverted Flight are the most basic of maneuvers -- straight and level flight parallel to the runway at a constant altitude. Those words sound simple and you may say "Anyone can do that!" I beg to differ with you. It never ceases to amaze me how many beginning pilots CAN'T do this simple thing correctly. Any type of trim problem the airplane may have is accentuated on this pass, and every correction is as plain as the nose on your face. So take the time to get your plane trimmed so that it will fly the entire length of the field hands-off without ANY change in altitude or heading. Then you can get down to the maneuver elements.
bulletDowngrades:
  1. Change in Altitude
  2. Change in heading.
    Must fly parallel to the runway.
  3. Does not hold constant altitude.
    Level flight.
  4. Gallops in pitch, yaw, or roll.
    Same story -- trim that airplane!!
bulletInverted Flight: The model shall fly along a straight line inverted.
bulletDowngrades:
  1. Change in Altitude
  2. Plane deviates left or right.
    Must fly parallel to the runway.
  3. Does not hold constant altitude.
    Level flight.
  4. Gallops in yaw, roll, or pitch.
    Same story -- trim that airplane!!