My first spins were last year during a spin clinic given by Rich Stowell in a Super Decathlon. The first one is truly an "Oh Sh@t!" moment, but as the other posters mentioned, I was ready to do a few more right after that. At the end of the flight Rich told me that I had just completed as much spin training, if not more, as the average CFI's receives. What really made the difference was that he allowed me to enter and recover from each spin. I think this is important regarding the way you react to and feel about them. Then we did a few rolls and loops to finish the day.
I went up with Rich again this October and I was very anxious about the first spin, as it had been over a year since I had last done one. But just like the previous year after the first it was a non-event. In fact, after we did the four spins in which I entered and recovered, Rich took the plane and placed us into spins from various unusual attitudes such as a climbing turn, botched loop, and a snap roll. In each case I had to take the controls and call out each step in the recovery. Suprisingly I didn't feel rushed. We followed up that session with a loop and a hammerhead.
To build on the momentum of that flight I've started a formal aerobatics course and now we do spins on the way back to the airport after doing other maneuvers, if I'm not already too beat up. In fact we do two or three turns to really let it spin up. The point of this rant is that they're eventually something you get used to and may even enjoy, but they are always to be respected. The next step in my spin education will likely be inverted spins and flat spins. I know it may be hard to believe right now, but you'll have fun.
Dave
I went up with Rich again this October and I was very anxious about the first spin, as it had been over a year since I had last done one. But just like the previous year after the first it was a non-event. In fact, after we did the four spins in which I entered and recovered, Rich took the plane and placed us into spins from various unusual attitudes such as a climbing turn, botched loop, and a snap roll. In each case I had to take the controls and call out each step in the recovery. Suprisingly I didn't feel rushed. We followed up that session with a loop and a hammerhead.
To build on the momentum of that flight I've started a formal aerobatics course and now we do spins on the way back to the airport after doing other maneuvers, if I'm not already too beat up. In fact we do two or three turns to really let it spin up. The point of this rant is that they're eventually something you get used to and may even enjoy, but they are always to be respected. The next step in my spin education will likely be inverted spins and flat spins. I know it may be hard to believe right now, but you'll have fun.
Dave
