I had thought a chandelle was really half a loop followed by a half
roll to get right side up....

No, that's an Immelman, aka Immelman turn.

but most describe it as a climbing turn

A climbing 180 degree turn.

The question nagging at me is, if in something like an
Arrrow or a Mooney, if you were in a cruise at 140 knots would you
have enough speed to pull back into a half loop to make a fast 180
degree change in turn in a tight space?

Having flown Cherokees for 30 years, and before that having done many
Immelmans and loops in military aircraft, I would say no. BTW, Cherokees
don't cruise at 140 knots.


I suppose I could calculate ....... but real life
experience is better than calculations....

Except that one can be sure of being alive after a calculation.

vince norris