Re: Spinnin\' the Tomahawk.
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I don't think it's a good idea to 'teach' someone spins when you've never even flown the airplane you're trying to teach in. just me though. I do have katana time though, but even then I would get spin training myself in it before teaching someone
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This is exactly why I'm posting here. I'll likely be instructing in a PA38, so I want the training first.
We don't disagree Ed as I suspect we didn't, and for some weird reason, you seem to think we do from the way I'm reading your posts.
I have read everything that I was able to find on the Tomahawk, which includes all links and reference of real sources that have found their way into this thread, and a few others as well. I do not doubt the aircraft is airworth, or that it can stall and recover, or that it can spin and recover. And that is not what my question is. I'm going by the FAA saying that it can be done according to the certification. And, I've seen others here say they have done it.
The Grumman AA1 series, there is a perfect example. One time certified for spins by the FAA. That certification for intentional spins was removed. Because of that, I would not do intention spins in it. No such thing has been done with the Tomahawk.
I'm keeping this going because so far, I've got 4 comments related to what I asked originally, and may get more. The rest of this is turning into questions of if the plane is airworthy as originally certified, and I'll try and address them as I can, but that seems to be stirring people up a lot for some reason.
Doug, yes.
From the PA38-112 POH Section 4, Normal Procedures, 4.43 Spins
The airplane is approved for intentional spinning when the flaps are fully retracted.
The POH has the following sections, I'll just list the titles, since it all covers 4 pages: before spinning, spin entry, spin recovery, further advice on spinning, mishandled recovery, dive out, engine. Each of these areas are about 100-400 words long. I can type in some text if anyone wants to read it, and doesn't have a POH to look at.
Again, thanks for those that have provided their PA38 experiences, and continue to do so.
There are 2 small schools at my local field that use the Tomahawk as the primary trainer. I use one of them. In my initial training hours for private, during cross controlled stall demos, we got about 1/2 turn around on the recover. Since then I've been interested in doing more with the planes, but that instructor has gone back to an airline job. None of the instructors I am familiar with there currently have done intentional spins in the planes there. I'll be contacting the owner of the other school soon, since it is a short walk away, though they specialize in bringing foreign students in for training.