Alright CFIs. . .

Spinning an aircraft, how did you get over the apprehension (if you had any?) during your CFI training?

 

Close your eyes and pray. If you don't get out of it that way, well, maybe the guy your riding with will for you!!!

 

I see. . .close my eyes, pray, let go of the controls, and throw the throttle in eh?

 

Just trust your CFI. The first second or so is scary, but after it all stabilizes into a full spin you settle down a bit and work on getting out. They're actually really fun! You'll like doing them, I promise!!!

 

haha. . . I doubt I'll like them.

I'll like them long enough to get the hell out of it.

 

Get over it? I couldn't stop doing them.

 

Oh yeah, I'll get over them

Who knows, they may be a blast, but the apprehension until I actually do one is going to drive me nuts.

 

Hmm... you either really liked them, or couldn't recover!! hehe... just joking!

Surreal, they're actually ALOT of fun!! After I completed 2 years as a CFI, I couldn't wait to get some CFI students- just to do the spins!!! I've intentionally spun a 172, a Citabria and a Pitts.... and it just keeps getting more and more fun.

If you're curious as to what it looks like from the pilot's perspective... check out the spin video on this page http://www.bruceair.com/Stall-Spin.htm
11.5 megs, be patient.

Not as bad as you thought, huh?

 

me too, but I'm pretty excited about it...

 

It's important to realize that spins really aren't that dangerous when you know exactly what's going on. Depending on the type of aircraft you do them in, they can be very predictable.

I can't say that I would want to do them everyday, but they are fun once you understand everything that's going on. (Although I must say that I enjoy a loop or snap roll even more than a spin)

I've spun in a Diamon Katana, Cessna 152, Super Decathalon, Piper Pacer, and Piper Warrior (the latter was unintentional due to student error during a CFI cross control stall demo).

Each airplane has it's own characteristics. The Katana was a good spin training aircraft because it had a rather pronounced entry, and a nice spin rate (about 1/2 turn per second). It also had a bit of a lag when you recovered, so it was more like a typical general aviation aircraft than some of the other spin trainers I have flown.

The Super Decathalon was very predictable (being an aerobatic aircraft). It would recover in exactly 3/4 of a turn, so you could actually teach students to recover on a specific heading.

The most important thing to lessen your apprehension is to brief the flight thoroughly before you go flying. Have your nstructor explain EVERYTHING that you will see in each phase of the spin, and accurately depict it with a model.

I can understand how spins can be a bit overwhelming or cause apprehension.. from day one, you are taught DON'T SPIN!!! They kill! But the truth is, we drive that home to our students because it's an affective way to keep their attention up in the pattern.

Spins are actually a good thing for every pilot to train (not just CFI's) and I encourage you to encourage your students to do so when you become a CFI.