WHY TRAIN SPINS
Confidence for Any Situation
Understanding how a spin begins and ends turns anxiety into confident, capable flying.
Many pilots are very nervous about stalls and spins. These are just aerodynamic states that an aircraft can encounter, not those typical of routine flying.
Being exposed to these scenarios will give you the visual and aircraft cues of what’s happening. Being confident in entering and exiting a spin gives pilots great confidence that they will be able to deal with any situation. Spin training is a confidence-builder.
Generally, spin training is undertaken in an “unusual attitude recovery course” or as a part of an aerobatics course. Although not required, understanding and recovering from spins is a skill that a fixed-wing pilot should learn as a safety precaution.
Spin training is a required course for CFI training.
WHAT IT COVERS
What does spin training cover?
Spin Entry and Incipient
Spin-entry procedures vary by aircraft type and model, but there are general procedures applicable to most aircraft. These include reducing power to idle while simultaneously raising the nose to induce an upright stall.
Then, as the aircraft approaches stall, apply full rudder in the desired spin direction while holding full back-elevator pressure for an upright spin. Sometimes a roll input is applied in the direction opposite of the rudder (i.e., a cross-control).
Spin Development
For most aircraft, the first turn of a spin is the incipient stage. Usually, two or more turns are required for the spin to be fully developed. The use of power and/or aileron can steepen or flatten the spin, depending on what is being trained.
Power
Idle. More power just pulls you to the ground faster, so reduce it to idle.
Ailerons
Neutral. Remember that for a spin to occur, the airplane has to be in an aggravated stall, where one wing is stalled more than the other. Going to neutral reduces that aggravation and reduces drag.
Rudder
FULL opposite the direction of the spin (left rudder for a right spin). The rudder still has effectiveness in a spin because of the spiraling slipstream going across the tail. If you can’t determine the direction of spin, reference the miniature airplane on the turn coordinator.
Elevator
Forward to “break” the stall. Even when the airplane is in a nose-down position, the wings are still stalled, meaning they’ve exceeded the critical angle of attack. You have to move the elevator forward to decrease that angle of attack.
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