All rights reserved. During a recent flying qualities flight test in an A-36 equipped with tip tanks, I experienced a partial aileron blockage. The dual yoke would center and turn to the right but not to the left, i.e., it would not turn to the left past center. During these tests, among other things we measure the roll rate of the aircraft. As the AI passes through 30 degrees of bank in the opposite direction the pilot again calls mark, and the stopwatch is stopped.
Experience shows that three tries gives a consistent average.
No, it is not as aggressive as it sounds. We have done dozens of these tests in this particular aircraft. Because the aircraft rolls more quickly in one direction, the third roll in the clean configuration was from left to right to demonstrate this effect. Upon completion of the left to right roll, in leveling the aircraft I noticed that the yoke would not turn to the left past center. Further gentle tests showed that the elevators and rudders worked, and that left rudder would roll the aircraft to the left as expected.