SurClaro Flight Simulator Resources

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 2:02 am Post subject: Airplane spins - what's the deal?

Can anyone comment on spins? I just don't see why or how an aircraft would start spinning or spiralling like some apparently do. I can see how a flap or control surface on only ONE side of the aircraft stuck in the wrong position would cause instant headaches but are there other conditions that facilitate such a radical loss of control? Furthurmore, is there a standard way to extract yourself from a bad spin situation? (No parachute jokes, lol) Is this one of the subjects for endless debate among real pilots I wonder? Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:08 am Post subject:

A stall can lead to a spin if the yaw isn't kept in check.

I was doing stalls and spins in a cessna (for real). We were doing a stall with flaps, when we yawed just a tad to the left, the plane violently rolled to the left and started to spin. About one rotation was all we did, then it was:

Full opposite rudder till the rotation was stopped,

Then neutral rudder,

Forward on the yoke to break the stall,

Gently ease back to pull out of the dive,

Add power gently as required.

A spin with flaps isn't recommended, but a stall with full flaps can go very wrong, VERY fast. In the blink of an eye we were almost inverted.

If youre approaching the stall and you feel one of the wings dipping because of yawing, immediately correct with OPPOSITE rudder. So if your right wing drops in the stall, you give LEFT rudder. Not Full rudder, only as much as required to keep the wings level. Though once I did battle with a 172 that was bent on a spin. Opposite rudder for about 30 seconds didn't bring it back up, so I said fug it, and I kicked it over into one of the tightest spins I've ever been in. What a rush!

DO NOT USE THE AILERONS, because at the stall or very close to it, they will be ineffective as the airflow is insufficient.

A spiral can be brought about my a turn where the plane is allowed to descend. If you do not maintain your altitude in a turn, the speed will increase, if you are banked far enough, pulling the yoke back to stop the descent will only tighten the spiral.

If you get into a spiral you should:

Close the throttle (and apply carb heat if equipped)

Roll out of the turn to WINGS LEVEL.

Backpressure on the yoke to ease out of the dive.

Add power when the airspeed has bled off to an acceptible speed.

NEVER APPLY ELEVATOR AND AILERON INPUTS SIMULTANEOUSLY. Doing this can overstress the airframe causing it to deform. I have seen planes with rippled skin because someone rolled and pulled at the same time. ALWAYS roll out of the turn FIRST before pulling out of the dive.

I hope this helps.

Edit by Exx: Nice job Gurl! Glad to see ya back...

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:41 am Post subject:

Well said!

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 7:06 pm Post subject:

Thank you, your great answer makes perfect sense.. and after trying some stalls in a Cessna 172 (Not for real) I see how one side of the aircraft does dip in a second and next thing you know you're in trouble. I guess good piloting includes NOT doing yourself in by flying badly and inviting stalls, etc. Pretty sensible to actually practise just in case as you mentioned. Very interesting, thanks again.

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 11:28 pm Post subject:

WOW...

...and to think I thought we'd lost Virgin forever.

She suddenly reappears and she didn't miss a beat. Not to mention that her sudden reappearance happened the same week that our other MIA female member (Sandpiper-N121PP) popped back on the scene.

Welcome back ladies!

Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2005 6:06 am Post subject:

Thank ya!

It's good to be back and of some help to someone Smile

*feels useful*

Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 2:15 pm Post subject:

Welcome back ladies....

Rick...yes, they do make this forum much brighter with their presence.

Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 5:43 pm Post subject:

I learnt to fly in the PA-38 Tomahawk and when that goes it really goes. You can be incipient and looking up at the ground before you've even had a chance to think about the pedals lol. One wing will always drop in that and you never have any idea which will go.

After learning to stall and recover in the tomahawk the PA-28 and TB-9 were a breeze with no wing drop at all. Well, then there's the T-67 Firefly and I just want to stall and spin that all day.

Nice advice and description Virgin. Nice to see some ladies here.

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 1:42 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure if my goosebumps are from the female presence or the thought of ACTUALLY experiencing stalls and recoveries for real. Ah, the fun things in life eh? Hard to top the adrenaline rush of pulling that baby up and straightening her out , eh? (The plane.) Smile

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 6:53 pm Post subject: FS Rolls

is virgin like one of the only girls on this site haha....anyways onto my point, how come FS doesnt simulate diving spins? i tried it in a cessna...sure it did the dive but no spin....anything else thats unlike to real life in FS in a cessna? (well im sure theres tons haha but like what)

Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 4:10 am Post subject:

As far as not lifelike in general goes, after the recent accident here at YYZ outside of Toronto, I'm wishing that runway conditions in wet weather were offered and as far as I know there is no modelling for this or ice, etc. Darn, THAT'S what I should have asked for in that e-mail to Microsoft instead of wishing I could fly higher than 100,000 feet!

haha just send another. also say hi from the C. they'll know what i mean. haha jk dont.