[kahoutek]

"The wings were going backwards and forwards like it was trying to balance itself."

This was described to me once as a "Dutch roll", the effect of a trailing wing losing lift and subsequently giving the opposite wing lift in a repeating motion similar to a swimmer's backstroke.

[tuesday afternoon]

The wings were going backwards and forwards like it was trying to balance itself."

This was described to me once as a "Dutch roll", the effect of a trailing wing losing lift and subsequently giving the opposite wing lift in a repeating motion similar to a swimmer's backstroke.

I'm having trouble picturing this. If the fuselage is the z-axis, are the wings alternately lifting in the x-y plane (like the plane was rolling on its belly) or alternating back and forth in the x-z plane?