Barrel roll

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This article is about the aerial sport. For the military operation, see Operation Barrel Roll.

A barrel roll occurs when an object (usually an airplane, roller coaster or arwing) makes a complete rotation on its longitudinal axis while following a helical path, approximately maintaining its original direction. Constant positive G load is maintained on the aircraft throughout the maneuver, commonly not more than 2-3 G.

In aviation, the maneuver includes a constant variation of attitude in all three axes, and at the midpoint (top) of the roll, the aircraft is flying inverted, with the nose pointing at a 90-degree angle ("sideways") to the general path of flight. The term "barrel roll" is frequently used, incorrectly, to refer to any roll by an airplane (see aileron roll), or to a helical roll in which the nose remains pointed generally along the flight path. In fact, the barrel roll is a specific and difficult maneuver; a combination of a roll and a loop. It is not used in aerobatic competition.

A barrel roll element on a roller coaster

1 Etymology
2 Barrel roll attack
3 Barrel roll on the Internet
4 Barrel roll on skis
5 In Popular Culture
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Etymology

The barrel roll is so-named because an aircraft executing this maneuver looks as though it were flying with its wheels running along the inside edge of a barrel. A more common modern visualization is to imagine an airplane trying to fly in a horizontal corkscrew.

[edit] Barrel roll attack

In aviation a barrel roll attack is a maneuver that improves the attacker's offensive position and prevents the attacker from overshooting. In this maneuver the defender breaks one direction and so the attacker rolls the opposite direction from the defender's break then climbs to reduce closing speed. Finally the attacker completes the roll so he is level again and turns in behind the defender.

[edit] Barrel roll on the Internet

A popular Internet meme or Internet fad in which one user tells another user to "Do a barrel roll!" within a comical context (most often the phrase is posted in reply to a plea for advice). The phrase is most often cited on websites such as GameFAQs, YTMND and 4chan. The source of this meme is mostly credited to the Nintendo 64 videogame Star Fox 64, in which the character of Peppy Hare tells the user to "Do a barrel roll!" at numerous times in the course of the game.

[edit] Barrel roll on skis

The barrel roll is also known for being a challenging trick to pull off on skis. The skier approaches a jump that will give him four feet of 'air' with both hands at shoulder level. Then, the skier throws his arm across the body in a downward motion to the left hip, before looking over the left shoulder at the ground while throwing one arm across the body. After that, the skier bends forward at the hips initiating a 360° forward flip. After the flip, the skier opens his arms and throws the right shoulder back before landing.

[edit] In Popular Culture

The term barrel roll has become an internet meme, after its use in the Nintendo 64 game Star Fox 64. Peppy, a character in Star Fox, instructs the player to "Do a barrel roll!" in their starship at opportune times by pressing Z or R twice. This quote has become a common occurrence in many online forums, chats, and videos.