"HL Falbaum" wrote in message news:5gdVb.193983$Rc4.1613691@attbi_s54...
Given all the threads on spins lately, I would like to know about 201 and
301 spins. I have flown both (3 flights) and have not "tickled the tiger".
They both required more then average attention to coordination. Shall I
assume the spin readily, and do anything peculiar? Asssume CG in mid range.
Thanks

Generally, I don't find our 201 particularly prone to spinning: I have
unintentionally stalled it while circling in rough thermals more times
than I probably should, but never with any real spin developing.

I have only really spun it once, and that was while asking for it. I
tried (at 4000 feet) what would happen if I flew with full airbrakes
and the stick held completely back against the rear stop (silly, but
someone said that you could do that). It actually just sat there,
pretty stable and decending at a high rate, until I hit a little bit
of turbulence: WHAM.

It turned what felt like half inverted (probably wasn't), fell through
and spun. No big issue - putting the airbrakes back in and doing a
standard recovery worked fine.

It did surprise me a bit that it did roll a bit far and took some time
before putting the nose down and entering a proper spin, but that may
well have been the effect of having the airbrakes deployed (memo to
self: don't fly uncoordinated and stalled on approach with airbrakes
deployed :-)

Since that episode we have added the winglet option to our 201 which
does make the stall behaviour (especially in thermalling turns) very
docile, compared to the non-wingletted version. But, if my fading
memory serves me correct, it wasn't spin-prone before we added the
winglets. But it may feel that way though - it can feel a little
wobbly when thermalled too slowly. In general, the different Libelles
that I have flown tend to be quite a bit different in handling.

Incidentially, our 201 is placarded against intentional spins (I don't
recall whether that is in the handbook as well?).

And, anyway, I wouldn't spin any glider intentionally with only three
flights on the type. I'd like to get to know it a bit before doing
that.

Bo Brunsgaard
Std. Libelle OY-XKB