Dutch roll

From open-encyclopedia.com - the free encyclopedia.

A Dutch roll is a simple aerobatic maneuver generally taught to student pilots to help them improve their crosswind-landing technique. The airplane is alternately rolled as much as 60-degrees left and right while opposite rudder is applied to keep the nose of the airplane pointed at a fixed point.

The term Dutch roll can also refer to an undesirable instability in some airplane designs. It refers to a condition where the airplane rapidly enters uncommanded left and right rolls.