Whifferdill turn
Encyclopedia
A whifferdill turn turn refers to any number of fancy aerobatic maneuver
s performed in an aerial flight show or while flying aggressively. It is a turn with both horizontal and vertical components, usually performed at the end of one maneuver in preparation for the next. As the plane is climbing the pilot makes a turn reversal, and as the plane descends it is turned so that it can make its next maneuver.
Pilot
s often use the term as slang
for any multi-axis movement.
The Whifferdill is a basic aerial warfare
maneuver that is used to reverse course in a dogfight
with very little loss of energy/airspeed. It is also a fundamental maneuver used in air show
s.
In astronautics
, a whifferdill is a maneuver used during orbital rendezvous when the target is on a different orbital plane from the piloted vehicle. Due to the nature of orbits, the target will seem to make a helical like motion relative to vehicle as the orbit progresses. A wifferdill maneuver is used to realign the orbital plane of the vehicle with the target in a short time space and stay near the targets orbital position or mean anomaly
. Due to the short time and positional requirements the maneuver uses a lot of fuel and can be difficult to execute successfully. In the case of Gemini 10 the need for the maneuver was a result of misalignment of the inertial guidance platform, causing axial drift of the approach trajectory, prior to closing to docking distance.
Aerobatic maneuver
Aerobatic maneuvers are flight paths putting aircraft in unusual attitudes, in air shows, dog fights or competition aerobatics. Aerobatics can be performed by a single aircraft or in formation with several others...
s performed in an aerial flight show or while flying aggressively. It is a turn with both horizontal and vertical components, usually performed at the end of one maneuver in preparation for the next. As the plane is climbing the pilot makes a turn reversal, and as the plane descends it is turned so that it can make its next maneuver.
Pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
s often use the term as slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
for any multi-axis movement.
The Whifferdill is a basic aerial warfare
Aerial warfare
Aerial warfare is the use of military aircraft and other flying machines in warfare, including military airlift of cargo to further the national interests as was demonstrated in the Berlin Airlift...
maneuver that is used to reverse course in a dogfight
Dogfight
A dogfight, or dog fight, is a form of aerial combat between fighter aircraft; in particular, combat of maneuver at short range, where each side is aware of the other's presence. Dogfighting first appeared during World War I, shortly after the invention of the airplane...
with very little loss of energy/airspeed. It is also a fundamental maneuver used in air show
Air show
An air show is an event at which aviators display their flying skills and the capabilities of their aircraft to spectators in aerobatics. Air shows without aerobatic displays, having only aircraft displayed parked on the ground, are called "static air shows"....
s.
In astronautics
Astronautics
Astronautics, and related astronautical engineering, is the theory and practice of navigation beyond the Earth's atmosphere. In other words, it is the science and technology of space flight....
, a whifferdill is a maneuver used during orbital rendezvous when the target is on a different orbital plane from the piloted vehicle. Due to the nature of orbits, the target will seem to make a helical like motion relative to vehicle as the orbit progresses. A wifferdill maneuver is used to realign the orbital plane of the vehicle with the target in a short time space and stay near the targets orbital position or mean anomaly
Mean anomaly
In celestial mechanics, the mean anomaly is a parameter relating position and time for a body moving in a Kepler orbit. It is based on the fact that equal areas are swept at the focus in equal intervals of time....
. Due to the short time and positional requirements the maneuver uses a lot of fuel and can be difficult to execute successfully. In the case of Gemini 10 the need for the maneuver was a result of misalignment of the inertial guidance platform, causing axial drift of the approach trajectory, prior to closing to docking distance.
External links
- http://www.limalima.com/airshow.htm illustrates the Whifferdill in use in an aerobatic routine