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5 Answers

Step on the Ball?

Asked by: 11134 views Aerodynamics, General Aviation, Private Pilot, Student Pilot

I completed my biennial flight review about a year ago with a somewhat young flight instructor that also works as a commercial pilot. He reminded me of "stepping on the ball" to keep a coordinated flight. Make sure the ball is centered in the turn coordinator. I have always been taught this way and try to turn this way always. Recently, I went up with a completely different flight instructor to get the OK to be a tow pilot. I went with an elderly gentleman that is a retired commercial pilot with a ton of hours. Anyway, he got after me for not using the rudder enough. He said that any time I turn left, I must use the left rudder. Any time I turn right, I must use the right rudder. Don't look at the "ball" at all. The plane will turn better and be less likely to stall in slow flight he told me. 

So now, I am completely confused. How should I turn?

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5 Answers



  1. Mark Kolber on Apr 17, 2016

    Those aren’t two different things. They are the same. If you make a left turn with no rudder input, the ball will move to the left as the airplane yaws right due to adverse yaw. When you “step on the ball” you will add left rudder for the left turn.

    All the new instructor is telling you is, why be reactive and wait for the ball to get out of sync before stepping on it? I’m guessing of course but that’s probably what he saw you doing – going uncoordinated, waiting for the ball, and then correcting. His point is most likely, why wait until you are uncoordinated before you become coordinated?

    Learning how to add the appropriate amount of same side rudder at the same time you input the aileron (or even slightly before – search for the phrase, lead the turn with rudder ) – with make the turns coordinated throughout and much smoother.

    If/when you have them, I guarantee your rear seat passengers will be happy you did. In the front, we are usually sitting so close to the CG/CL we barely notice lack of coordination. But folks in the back, well behind the CG, will definitely notice it (a reason I try to have a student’s significant other in the back for at least one “normal flight” lesson, with instructions to whack the student in the back of the head when the feel their butts slide :D).

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  2. skyhawk623 on Apr 17, 2016

    No, we are not looking at the ball at all. I flew with him again today. When I use ailerons to turn left and the ball goes right, I am still supposed to use left rudder. I understand what you are telling me, but that is not what is happening. Anyway, I do have to say that at slow flight with a glider in tow, the plane is more responsive with left turn aileron and left rudder (even with the ball deflected fully right). I am buying into this more and more. There are no passengers to worry about -this is a two seater. This is not what I was taught and this is not what you believe either and this is not what another flight instructor from this same group is telling me. However, it seems to work well and I would recommend trying it at slow flight. The plane was more responsive. I had better control with the yoke when using left aileron & left rudder (ball totally right). This started working well for me with slow flight and a glider in tow. I had better control -even though the “ball” said my flight was totally uncoordinated. I hope this makes sense and if you have time, I am curious about your thoughts.

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  3. Mark Kolber on Apr 18, 2016

    When I use ailerons to turn left and the ball goes right, I am still supposed to use left rudder.

    You might need to spend some time looking at the ball to see what it is doing. When you input aileron to turn left, adverse yaw produces an initial yaw to the right and the ball goes left. What you may be seeing the neutralization of the ailerons once you reach the desired bank angle – that is a right aileron movement with a left yaw and a right ball movement.

    we are not looking at the ball at all.

    I obviously cant be sure without being there, but it sure sounds to me like the CFI is trying to teach you to fly more visually – to learn the visual cues that go along with adverse yaw and to anticipate and correct it in advance, rather than reacting to the ball.

    The sequence I think he is looking for you to learn (amusing level flight; being in a climb or descent changes it a little) is:

    • To turn left, lead with left rudder and input left aileron.
    • Once established in the bank, input right aileron and right rudder to neutralize.
    • To roll out, lead with right rudder and input right aileron.
    • Once back to wings level, left aileron accompanied by left rudder.

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  4. Mark Kolber on Apr 18, 2016

    When I use ailerons to turn left and the ball goes right, I am still supposed to use left rudder.

    You might need to spend some time looking at the ball to see what it is doing. When you input aileron to turn left, adverse yaw produces an initial yaw to the right and the ball goes left. What you may be seeing the neutralization of the ailerons once you reach the desired bank angle – that is a right aileron movement with a left yaw and a right ball movement.

    we are not looking at the ball at all.

    I obviously cant be sure without being there, but it sure sounds to me like the CFI is trying to teach you to fly more visually – to learn the visual cues that go along with adverse yaw and to anticipate and correct it in advance, rather than reacting to the ball.

    The sequence I think he is looking for you to learn (assuming level flight; being in a climb or descent changes it a little) is:

    • To turn left, lead with left rudder and input left aileron.
    • Once established in the bank, input right aileron and right rudder to neutralize.
    • To roll out, lead with right rudder and input right aileron.
    • Once back to wings level, left aileron accompanied by left rudder.

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  5. Mark Kolber on Apr 18, 2016

    Sorry for the double-post 🙁

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