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Path: utzoo!watmath!watnot!watcgl!dmmartindale
From: dmmartindale@watcgl.UUCP (Dave Martindale)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Advice on obtaining pilot's license
Message-ID: <2422@watcgl.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 29-Aug-85 15:42:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: watcgl.2422
Posted: Thu Aug 29 15:42:23 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Aug-85 11:41:32 EDT
References: <360@tektools.UUCP> <489@cepu.UUCP> <434@sdchema.sdchema.UUCP> <340@zaphod.UUCP>
Reply-To: dmmartindale@watcgl.UUCP (Dave Martindale)
Distribution: net
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 27

First, let me say that I had to do spins as part of flight training
(I'm Canadian) and they aren't very frightening once you know what the
plane is going to do.  The *first* time, though, can be awfully startling,
particularly if you weren't deliberately trying to spin the aircraft.
(I was trying to keep the wings level during a stall and instinctively
tried to use ailerons - I suspect my instructor was expecting it though.)
I figure that anyone that gets a plane into an inadvertent spin at altitude
has a pretty poor chance of recovering if they've never practiced spin
recovery.  And doing some practice spins both teaches respect for spins
and understanding that avoiding them is not difficult.

If I'd never done a spin, I suspect that I'd either be somewhat terrified
of them (since they are unknown) or not have sufficient respect for them.

In article <340@zaphod.UUCP> pauly@zaphod.UUCP (Paul Yeager) writes:
>
>Let me also add here that a C-172 has to be really forced into a spin,
>and it is said that *MOST* general aviaition singles will get 
>themselves out of a spin if you let the controls loose.

That isn't quite correct.  The spin recovery method Paul is referring
to suggests taking your hands OFF the stick/wheel, so you don't make
things worse by incorrect control inputs, and apply FULL RUDDER against
the spin's rotation.  Apparently a wide variety of aircraft recover very
well from both normal and inverted spins using this technique.
But some may not - for example, requiring full forward stick rather than
just hands-off.