STOL video question

[flarebounceflare]

Ok some questions for someone experienced in the sort of antics shown in this clip. Not that I am going to try it on my next lesson in the 152, just curious, although the tail first landings look like fun



1) On the takeoff at about the 1:20 mark what is he up to with (what I presume are) the slats? Why deploy them then not at the start of the roll, is it just to create a sudden lift increase to pop it off the deck as rate of climb not an issue with that much thrust available?

2) At about the 1:30 mark as he banks away he is raising and lowering the flaps up and down as he banks. Why? (I assume the lever is flaps judging by the corresponding movement of the flap just in shot, mind you the way he is flying it might as well be a collective lever)

[hardyakka]

I think the slats deploy automatically. When the wing angle of attack hits a certain value at a certain airspeed, the slipstream air pressure overcomes the springs that hold them closed and out they pop, giving extra lift at higher angles of attack. Colin Henderson's Me108 replica has slats that work this way as well (Also standard on Tiger Moths?)

The flap deployment bit is all about managing airspeed vs lift. I suspect he is actually lining up the landing field (he is looking to his right) and getting the flaps out to get lift/drag ratio on the STOL side of the curve early.

The pilot comes in at a very high angle of attack at very low speed. As soon as the tail wheel touches he closes the throttle and uses the very long travel undercarriage suspension to soak up the drop. Trying this in a 152 might be ill advised...