In article , Todd Pattist
writes:

I'd heard a few comments about English spin training from a
winch launch at 800', but I thought it was either bar-talk
or a rogue instructor.

I know different areas use different training methods, but
from my U.S. centric perspective, "officially sanctioned
lunacy" seems like an awfully good description.

This was certainly true. On my instructor finishing course in 1977 with the
then British National Coach, (and you don't get much more "official" than that)
having joined downwind at about 800 ft, he took control and demonstrated a full
spin (about 1 rotation from memory) in a Bocian.

As far as I can remember this was to demonstrate the need to overcome a strong
natural instinct to pull the stick back when the grass fills the canopy and
take full recovery action.

It may not come as a total surprise to you to learn that I have never done it
since and, when Chief Flying Instructor of my club, had a rule that all spins
must be competed by 1500ft!

Barney
UK