ASK 21 spin ballast installation

Stefan wrote:
Chuck Griswold wrote:

Why would you use tail
ballast to instruct
aerobatics?

You wouldn't have guessed it: To do simple erect spins.

I am aware that some pilots claim to have been able to spin the 21
without the tail ballast. I'm not among them.

Technique that has worked for me in just about every 21 or 103 I've
tried it (and I weigh 95 kg or so):

Establish a stable slip, nose slightly higher than normal, for purposes
of this discussion, left wing down. Apply full left rudder, at same
time move stick fully right and back. No need to jerk the controls,
quick smooth movements are all that is needed. You might have to play
with the slip angle a bit...

Marc Ramsey wrote:

Technique that has worked for me in just about every 21 or 103 I've
....

Thanks, I'll try that as soon as spring is coming. Not exactly the kind
of spin entry you're looking for in an aerobatic program, though.

Stefan

Stefan wrote:
Marc Ramsey wrote:

Technique that has worked for me in just about every 21 or 103 I've
...

Thanks, I'll try that as soon as spring is coming. Not exactly the kind
of spin entry you're looking for in an aerobatic program, though.

True, but it is the kind of spin entry one might be looking at if one is
a bit ham-fisted coming out of a slipping turn to final...

Wear a chute.

I spent alot of time at Estrella in the late 80's. During that time, the
guy who owned the place, Les Horvath, just about spun in a Grob 103. Les is
an extremely talented and experienced acro pilot. He was intentionally
demonstrating a spin while doing a cockpit checkout for a new instructor.
If I am not mistaken, this was the technique he used to spin the 103. The
spin went flat and was not recoverable except by the rear passenger
unbuckling his belts and throwing himself forward over the rear instrument
panel to move the CG. Afterwards he told me personally that he would have
bailed out if he had a chute on. He was that convinced they were not going
to get it unstuck. I think it's just a plain old good idea to wear one any
time this serious of a maneuver is to be attempted.


Mark


"Stefan" wrote in message
...
Marc Ramsey wrote:

Technique that has worked for me in just about every 21 or 103 I've
...

Thanks, I'll try that as soon as spring is coming. Not exactly the kind of
spin entry you're looking for in an aerobatic program, though.

Stefan

Mark Lenox wrote:

Wear a chute.

*Always* wear a chute, not only when spinning! Aerobatics, even
spinning, is pretty safe compared with cross country flying.

In Europe, almost all glider pilots always wear chutes. Not because it's
mandatory (it's not, in most countries even not for aerobatics), but
because, well, just because we do. Over the years, those chutes have
saved many lives. Almost all bail outs were done after midairs, I'm not
aware of one caused by an unrecoverable spin.

Stefan