Puchaz Spinning thread that might be of interest in light of the recent accident.

W.J. \(Bill\) Dean \(U.K.\). wrote:

For the pilot, one moment it is flying normally, the next it is
pointing at the ground and rotating.

This can happen inadvertently to a glider which cannot be made to do
this deliberately.

Hmmm...so gliders spinning is "non-deterministic?" Quantum spinning? :P
I don't buy it. Just because someone can't replicate it doesn't mean
it can't be replicated. I had an instructor with over 20,000 hours
of dual given in 152's. The guy was fearless. He told me he had
a student do a perfect spin, with ailerons only (no rudder), and
a recovery after a turn and a half. He spent weeks trying to do the
same thing and couldn't do it...but I bet the student could :P


5. The stall/spin occurs whenever, and only when, the angle of attack is
too high. The angle of attack is controlled by the elevator i.e. the
stick.

Sometimes it's controlled by the stick, and as some FedEx pilots
have proven, sometimes it isn't...

7. Spinning is an aerobatic manoeuvre, some pilots do them for fun.
Instructors should only spin as required for instruction, and not use
instruction as an excuse for aerobatics. Aerobatic instruction is a
different thing altogether.
Bill.

I believe some instructors get bored doing the same old
thing all the time, and do "extra spin training" and "repeated
engine failure" for their own amusement. I believe I have seen this
occassionally to the detriment and delay and increased
expense of the student's training...