I was doing some training with my CFI (aka my Dad over the weekend
for power-on stalls in a Cherokee 140. Not having much experience with
power-on stalls, I was surprised at how easily that plane would spin.
We were not trying to spin, but the stall was violent enough that we did
drop a wing and were in the entry to a spin as he recovered very
quickly. Considering the most likely spot for a power-on stall is just
after takeoff, I want that spin training (which we're going to do in a
C150).

As for the people getting killed in spin training, I concur with
Mortimer. They didn't start high enough. The PTS specifically states
for stalls (and I would expect this to apply to spins) that recovery
must be completed before reaching 1500' AGL. We start our power-on
stall training at 5000' MSL (4800' AGL) because of the threat of spins.
I'm SURE we will follow that same altitude rule for spin training.
Btw, our lowest altitude after /all/ of the stall practice was at least
4500' MSL (4300' AGL).

Chris


Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:
Rod wrote:

I don't necessarily think that omitting spins from the PTS is the best
move the FAA has made, but I don't know the whole story.

They had more people killed in spin training than were preventyed by the
training.



Then they were done wrong. Started out too low?

I've had one inadvertant spin in my entire flying career... back when I was
doing slow flight while working on my commercial license. The air wasn't
particlarly smooth and a wing dropped. I picked it up with rudder and
immediately snapped over into a spin. Fortunately, I'd had spin training when
finishing up my private license and once you've seen that sight picture once,
you remember it for life. I instantly knew what had happened, what to do, and
then did it. I doubt we made more than half a turn.

My instructor was shaken up though: "Let's call it a day." I guess he was one
of those "new generation" instructors who never did much with spins. It sure
showed.