Spin Training

C

chuck91

New Member
Can anyone please comment on Spin Training, I know that it is required in order to get to CFI. It looks like a very intimidating maneuver to do, is it scary? Has anyone ever had a student inwhich you were teaching spins and the student got freaked out? I would like to go the CFI way, but I do have to admit, that I would be a little worried about that maneuver. Is it like riding on a roller coaster?

I would like to get as many point of views as possible.

All serious comments welcomed.
 
I'm scheduled to do my first ever spins this weekend. I'll let you know what I think of them after that.
 
Spins are a blast! Once you understand the aerodynamics behind them, and get a few under your belt, you'll be fine. You might want to consider some aerobatic training. Aerobatics force you to use a more precise flying technique, and you also will have a perspective of "being there before" should you ever get rolled inverted by wake turbulence, etc.

Good luck!

Grayson
 
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Is it like riding on a roller coaster?

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Actually it is much like the first big drop on a rollercoaster. If that dosen't freak you out, then you'll be fine.

People get really psyched out by spins, but they are a blast once you do them a couple of times. After you get the hang of them you'll go out and do them just for fun.



I bet a skydiver I could beat him to the ground in a C-182. He didn't belive me. I intentionaly spun the plane from 12.5 down to a recovery at 3000 and a short approach in 136 seconds. FUN!
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$100 to me!
 
Best information that I have found for spins or aerobatics is by Kershner.
First time is kinda scary but after that there fun. I did all of mine in a skyhawk. If it is an older skyhawk with out the leading edge kit than it will break fast and spin easy. I have had a harder time with the newer skyhawks with the leading edge mod. I can remember having to hold the plane in the spin sometimes to get the rotation. Find out how many spins your instructor has done also. I and my buddy did the spins for the flight school because everyone else was freaked out about them. Just relax and pay attention to your CFI . DONT FREEZE.

Story time!

Had an past instructor tell me about a student that froze during a spin and wouldn't let go of the controls of the airplane. Took the fire extinguster and broke the students arm before he let go of the controls.

I would suspect that it was just one of those stories that change and grow worse and worse with time.


I sure hope your instructor will sit down and discuss with the what to expect and how to recover and go through some basic spin types and learn something very valuable... Instead of just spining you and inking your logbook.

If I had money I would love to take basic aerobatics in a Citabria or Extra
Of course I would just love to have money!
 
wow i dont know what kind of training you americans do but in canada it is MANDATORY to teach spins, in the private a spin only has to be demonstrated, in the commercial flight test the guy has to get into a spin AND recover from it...... i think spin trainging should be included, if a guy has never seen it or can't get himself out, he can die from it..... and it's not very hard to get into one!
 
Spin training for private licenses in the US was discontinued many years ago when someone woke up and realized that (1) a lot of people were dying in spin training, and (2) outside of flight training, most accidental spins occur at altitudes which are too low to allow recovery in an ideal case. There's an amazing (to me) amount of controversy still today about that decision.

MF
 
I just completed the 1st of 4 mandatory spin lessons in a Zlin, required in the Flight Safety commercial pilot program cirriculum. I had my best flying experience to date. We did crazy 8's, wing overs, loops, and some spins. It was only my first lesson, so we will cover much more in the next few days to the point where i can get into a left or right spin and recover on my own. I was a little apprehensive at first, but honestly after the first set of 3 turn spins to the left, I was doing them on my own, only trouble was the initial recovery. I found that it is hard to push full forward pressure when the G's are forcing you towards your seat, but after practicing a few times it becomes easier. Anyway I loved it and can not wait to do more!
 
[ QUOTE ]
It looks like a very intimidating maneuver to do, is it scary? Is it like riding on a roller coaster?

I would like to get as many point of views as possible.

All serious comments welcomed.

[/ QUOTE ]

sure its a little intimidating at first, but like stalls after you get used to a few it shouldnt be that big of a deal. you could call the feeling is like a roller coaster and depending how you look at it that could be good or bad, in my opinion spins are just another aspect that makes flying great!
 
What if roller coasters scare the crap out of you?

And your afriad of height.... and... overly cautious?

Well that's me?
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The Kershner book is one of the better ways to go through the dynamics behind the spin, and I highly recommend it as well. Especially for those who are working on the CFI. Many places will log the spin instruction proficiency thing in an hour of less of flight time, which I think is insane. To even go through seeing the possible ways students may get into a spin takes long that an hour in an aircraft. Then to become aware in an instructional way, where you can talk out of one as it happens (as a CFI should in all manuevers) would be another hour or two of practice. Better safe that sorry in my opinion.

And don't do spins only in a 172. Get a plane that actually spins, and recovers, with positive spin inputs. 7KCAB or 8KCAB are typically a cheap way to go into this. Strap on some chuts and have fun. Accelerated spins are a blast, and good to go through so you know what to expect before a student does it to you.

Have fun.

Josh
 
I had a student lock up on me a couple weeks ago. After yelling at him a few times to relinquish controls, I just hit him hard on the underside of his arm and he let go. No big deal. I love spinning. So much that I'd be perfectly happy just doing that the rest of my career!
 
I second JD's comment. Spinning is WAY too much fun! And we both learned in the 'dreaded' Tomahawk. What a kickin' little plane! Makes a Cessna look almost as exciting as your FAR/AIM.
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As for those Northern neighbors of ours, what exactly does it mean when you say a Private Pilot has to demonstrate a spin while a Comm has to demonstrate and RECOVER from a spin? I'd hope the Private Pilot has to recover also . . .


EDIT: Ahhh . . . You're saying that the instructor has to demonstrate the spin for the student at the Private level? It's all so clear now!
 
Not wanting to hijack the thread, but I'll be doing my spin training in a Katana.

Anyone else spun a Katana? I've never even flown one.
 
Is it just me, or is it a royal PITA to get a C172 to spin? And then you don't have to do all the stuff to recover from the spin, it's like you just let go and it recovers for you.

Okay, I'm exaggerating a bit, but it takes work to make it spin.
 
I with you, Tony! It's not easy to get into an accidental spin in any plane, but the C172 is hard to spin even when it's intentional. Having flown a number of different primary trainers, it's hard to say what's best: an aircraft that requires attention and precision (Tomahawk) or one that's ultra stable and forgiving (Skyhawk). I think I lean toward the Tommies in a lot of cases. It's too bad they caught a bogus bad rap and weren't built for long. On the other hand, I'm diggin' these new 172Rs with all the bells and whistles. Makes me feel big and important!
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Now if only they had photo ports on the windows . . .
 
I did mine in a 150, and it was hard to get it to spin. It's basically pull all the way back on the yoke and push rudder all the way to the floor and then wait. And wait. Aaaand then it finally breaks over.

Recovery was easy.

MF
 
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