On 8/28/2012 5:25 PM, jfitch wrote:
On Tuesday, August 28, 2012 2:13:48 PM UTC-7,
wrote:
On Tuesday, August 28, 2012 10:16:31 AM UTC-7, kirk.stant wrote:



Bob, I'm not quite sure what your point is. In fact, you seem at first
to suggest that practicing unusual attitude recoveries is a bad thing!



I agree with Kirk. Just because practicing spin entry/recovery at
altitude isn't identical to spin entry/recovery at 300' doesn't mean that
practice at altitude isn't worthwhile - and it's definitely a lot easier
on the nerves than practicing at 300'. There are other things we can do
to try to become aware of the different atmospheric, geometric and
mindset issues down low and under pressure, but the basic airmanship of
knowing how your glider spins/recovers is a universal good in my
estimation.



9B

I'm pretty sure I don't understand this. Why not practice spins at 300 ft?
If you thermal at 300 ft, either A) you are quite sure you will never spin
at 300 ft or B), you think you can safely recover from 300 ft. spin. If (A)
there is no need to practice spins at 300 or any other altitude. If B, then
300 ft spin practice is perfectly safe.

I think for most pilots, recovering from a spin initiated at 300 ft would
scare the hell out of them. You should really not be intentionally putting
yourself in a position where the hell can be scared out of you. If you are
engaging in an activity that cannot be safely practiced, how then can it be
safely done without practice?


Now *I'm* puzzled! :-)

Re-reading my earlier post, I can't find where I even *hinted* "practicing
unusual attitude recoveries is a bad thing!"

But since it was implicitly asked what my point was, I'll try and be succinct.
(Warning! There was more than one point.) In no particular order...
- skills practice is good;
- practicing some skills (e.g. departures from controlled flight at low
altitudes) is like practicing Russian roulette;
- skill won't help if your margins are too thin;
- certain margins (e.g. "safe spinning height") are inherently unquantifiable
if life-continuing precision is one's goal.

Bob - wimpoid - W.