Spin instruction is the standard starting point for all
beginning aerobatic programs. In addition to providing an essential basic maneuver, the
training greatly increases safety and confidence for pilots denied exposure to
spins during primary instruction. The US is the only major nation that does not require
spin training for its Private pilots, despite the fact that spins have been around since
the beginning of powered flight.
A spin is a natural "autorotation" that builds from other, more desirable,
design characteristics of fixed wing aircraft. Any airplane that can be stalled can be
spun. When pilots view spins with mistrust, it is due to the fact that not every spin is
recoverable--a circumstance usually traceable to inadequate control surfaces.
This animation traces spin development through the first full turn; all certificated
single-engine aircraft in the US are capable of recovery at this point. In subsequent
rotations, the nose will continue to rise until stabilizing approximately 60° below the
horizon. At that stage, recovery is not possible for all aircraft.
Aerobatic airplanes are naturally built with the controls necessary for recovery at any
stage of spin development, and spins are a standard figure at every level of competition. |
