Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:

Way back in the 30s, some pilots would spin through an overcast and then recover
underneath in the clear. Unless the ceiling was 200', that is. Can you
imagine? Open cockpit, rain spraying you and there you go into an intentional
spin into the merk. Must have had huge balls and tiny brains....

I agree. According to Gann in his autobiography, the conventional wisdon in
those days was that the best way to handle thunderstorms was to bull right
through the center. I guess that, either way it works out, that technique gets
you through the storm the most rapidly.

George Patterson
There's plenty of room for all of God's creatures. Right next to the
mashed potatoes.