On 29 Jan 2004 21:46:51 GMT, Bob Kuykendall
wrote:

I've watched an ASW-20, flown by a well-respected pilot,
flick into a spin while thermalling. Including the
recovery, it went about a turn and a half. The thing
that impressed me about it was the dynamic and asymmetric
flexing of the wings in the entry. I seem to recall
that it was an over-the-top entry, but I could be wrong
on that. I have no idea what precipitated the entry,
but I can say that it made more of an impression on
my opinion of the ship than on my opinion of the pilot.

Typical for an ASW-20 in flap setting 4.

My only unintentional spin also happened in a 20. At flap setting 4
the 20's departure can be aprupt and if the CG is halfways backwards
it immediately enters a spin with an over-the-top entry if not
immediate corrective measures (anti-spinwise rudder, flaps to neutral
or even negative) are applied. Time from stall to spin less than two
seconds. Really impressive.

My spin happened when I was hit by strong lift while flying along a
cloud street at very low speed (below 75 kp/h) and flap setting 4.
I consciously delayed my correction with the rudder when the 20 began
to turn towards one wing because I wanted to see what would happen,
and was amazed how quickly I was going trough inverted into a
fully-developed spin.

Immediate application of rudder had prevented that, and at neutral or
even flaps the 20 has very docile stall manners.

Bye
Andreas