Dutch rolls

Dutch roll is an unavoidable dynamic response, not a desirable
maneuver. It's no more useful than the phugoid. And no more
intentional.

I think what we have here is two different terms with the same name.
Flight instructors call for a "Dutch roll" when they want to see how
the (unfamiliar) student handles the controls. When asked, I just
cross-control at fixed intervals. It seemed and seems pointless to me,
which is why I asked the question about its use in combat.

I once edited Glen Edwards's diaries for a book, which is where I
first heard the term. His successor as head of the YB-49 project at
Muroc (later Edwards) told me how the bombardier would get seasick on
the Flying Wing because of Dutch roll, which is the sense you are
using it.

Over on rec.aviation.piloting they recently argued about this, and
everyone attributed the term to nautical use (wave abaft the beam,
very sick-making). But no sailor I've talked to is familiar with it.

Thanks for all the responses, everybody!

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

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