Spins, Spiral Dives and Training

While I agree that practice recovering from "realistic entry" spins
and/or spiral dives is highly desirable, there are real problems with
trying to do so.

For example, my LS8-18 POH specifically states "Aerobatic flight not
approved". My club's Grob 103s are approved for spins, but the club
insurance policy prohibits doing them. There is one nearby commercial
operator who offers an introductory aerobatics course using a Blanik
L-13AC, but as he wants to get out of the flying business that option
won't be available much longer.

-John

For those of you who think spins can only be entered from almost straight
flight in a nose height attitude with a bootful of rudder, have a look at
the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xCct8cDtyk

This was an attempted downwind landing after a winch launch cable break at
80 metres (260ft). Note that the glider is never in a nose high attitude.
The pilot may have tried to rudder it round the low final turn, you can't
really tell from the quality of the video, but there was a reasonable
amount of bank on. What finally seems to have triggered the spin was
opening the airbrakes half way round the final turn.

Note also the amount of of rotational energy stored up once the spin
developed, with the glider continuing to rotate even after it crashed into
the ground. Reducing the rotation rate is the first action in recovering
from a fully developed spin, i.e. full outspin rudder.

At the wing drop or incipient stage, it is only necessary to move the
stick forward to unstall the wings and prevent a full spin from
developing. This will cost the minimum amount of height. The full spin
recovery at this point may actually cause a flick in the opposite
direction as well as delaying the recovery. So it's basically move the
stick forward, maybe using the rudder as well to minimise any build up of
yaw, and then sort out the bank and attitude by using the controls
normally once the airflow is re-attached to the wings.

Derek Copeland

Derek Copeland wrote:
For those of you who think spins can only be entered from almost
straight flight in a nose height attitude with a bootful of rudder,
have a look at the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xCct8cDtyk

"This video or group may contain content that is inappropriate for some
users, as flagged by YouTube's user community. To view this video or group,
please verify you are 18 or older by signing in or signing up."

Did it involve a fatality?

Jim Logajan wrote:

Did it involve a fatality?

Listen to the text: The pilot suffered only slight injuries.

John Smith wrote:
Jim Logajan wrote:

Did it involve a fatality?

Listen to the text: The pilot suffered only slight injuries.

You elided the essential part where I pointed out that one can't view the
video (and therefore "listen to the text") without first creating an
account on Youtube and atesting that one is 18 or over.

If it didn't involve a fatality, why is the video considered inappropriate
for some viewers?

Jim Logajan wrote:

You elided the essential part where I pointed out that one can't view the

I think this link works for all, it's the same video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUyVL...rom=PL&index=2

At 20:04 04 July 2009, Jim Logajan wrote:
John Smith wrote:
Jim Logajan wrote:

Did it involve a fatality?

Listen to the text: The pilot suffered only slight injuries.

You elided the essential part where I pointed out that one can't view
the
video (and therefore "listen to the text") without first creating an
account on Youtube and atesting that one is 18 or over.

If it didn't involve a fatality, why is the video considered
inappropriate for some viewers?

Possibly because of the rude word in German uttered by a lady witness that
you can also hear in the soundtrack!

Even if there were no fatalities or serious injuries, this video should be
X or 18 rated, and not viewed by those of a nervous disposition.

Fortunately such accidents are quite rare, at least in Europe, so this
video should not put you off gliding or winch launching.

Derek Copeland