how long does it take to recover from spins?

[VW Pilot]

Couple of seconds? 5, 10, 15???

How long did you take? evidently not very long. I've never done a spin before. What techniques are require to recover?? Before doing spins, what is the altitude most climb to? when the spin starts, is the aircraft rapidly spining or slow? I'm so afraid of trying it but I must do it if I want my PPL.

Any info helpful....

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Chances are you will do it in a Cessna 152. Your instructor will climb to approximately 7,000' or so and it will be a heck of a long time before you arrive up there due to the poor climb performance and summer time conditions.

Once at altitude, your CFI will demonstrate one or a few for you. He will begin to enter a power-off stall (although power-on will be much easier but more abrupt) and just as the nose begins to break he will apply full rudder in one direction while holding full aft on the elevator.

The initial spin will begin slowly but as you rotate more and more they will feel like they are tightening and you will begin to spin/rotate faster as the spin continues.

From the point of the stall break, 3 spins, to the spin recovery will be about 35 seconds or so.

The recovery is initiated by closing the throttle if open, using full opposite rudder, ailerons should be place in the neutral position and the controls should be moved forward to break the stall. Once the stall has been broken, you bring the nose up to the horizon.

 

[midlifeflyer]

but I must do it if I want my PPL.

Why? Assuming you're in the United States, spins are =not= required for a private pilot certificate. The only certificate that has a spin requirement in the US is the flight instructor certificate.

I know, there's a large contingent of pilots and instructors who thinks it =should= be required. But I don't think any CFI has the right to force a student to do the maneuver. If your CFI says it's required, I hope he's at least telling you that =he= the one requiring it, not the FAA.

If you do choose the take the training, how much time depends on the airplane that's used and how many turns are taught. But it's not long. Amish's 35 second estimate is probably at the high end for 3 turns in a 152.

 

[Doozer]

I know, there's a large contingent of pilots and instructors who thinks it =should= be required. But I don't think any CFI has the right to force a student to do the maneuver. If your CFI says it's required, I hope he's at least telling you that =he= the one requiring it, not the FAA.

You're right, of course; however, I've yet to have a primary airplane student who will keep the ball centered during early stall recovery practice. Invariably, we wind up practicing spin recoveries.

Soooooo, to impress upon them the importance of keeping the ball centered, we climb to about 6,000 and do the stall recovery routines. When (I say "when" not "if") they enter the spin as a result of not keeping the ball centered I talk them through the spin recovery; I've also yet to have to take the controls while doing this.

I learned this technique by accident/inattention; however, I've found that their experiencing me calmly talking them through the spin recoveries, while they're performing them, goes a long way toward reducing their fear of stall routines -- and it makes them a lot more conscientious about being in balanced flight.

 

[Traderd]

Couple of seconds? 5, 10, 15???

How long did you take? evidently not very long. I've never done a spin before. What techniques are require to recover?? Before doing spins, what is the altitude most climb to? when the spin starts, is the aircraft rapidly spining or slow? I'm so afraid of trying it but I must do it if I want my PPL.

Any info helpful....

I did spins in a Tomahawk in 1979. I still haven't recovered.

 

[dmspilot00]

Couple of seconds? 5, 10, 15???

How long did you take? evidently not very long. I've never done a spin before. What techniques are require to recover?? Before doing spins, what is the altitude most climb to? when the spin starts, is the aircraft rapidly spining or slow? I'm so afraid of trying it but I must do it if I want my PPL.

Any info helpful....

In the 152, after a 3-turn spin, it took about 1 second to stop the rotation and 4 seconds to recover from the dive.

 

[midlifeflyer]

You're right, of course; however, I've yet to have a primary airplane student who will keep the ball centered during early stall recovery practice. Invariably, we wind up practicing spin recoveries.

I'm curious if your experience is common or unusual. You're the first I've ever heard indicate that it happens a lot. I've only had it happen once, but I've always only taught part time so my sample is hardly significant.

 

[avbug]

If students keep spinning you, then you're behind the airplane and behind the student, and that's not a good place to be.

Too many instructors teach students to shove the nose over during a stall recovery, instead of teaching the student that relaxing an ounce of pressure on the controls, or decreasing the angle of attack by a degree and a barely perceptible change in aircraft attitude, is all that's required. The student thus becomes afraid of stalls, unusual attitudes, and begins to fear the airplane. The student has not been taught properly.

If a student begins to believe that a stall will quickly lead to a spin, the student is being allowed to enter a regime that could contribute to a phobia early in their training. It may be a roadblock to future learning because the student can easily become preoccupied with the fear that a spin might occur if the student gets slow.

Typically such students will be found landing fast, afraid of slips, afraid to get the ball out of the center, often have difficulties with crosswinds, become nervous about descending and landing or operating at lower altitudes, etc. The student may not even realize it. This can be traced directly back to allowing the student to experience unnerving events too soon...most students don't like nor enjoy unusual attitudes, and certainly won't have fond memories about being surprised by a vertical attitude when being taught basic flying technique.

The original poster seems to be asking with the intent of trying a spin by himself or herself. Teaching yourself about spins is an unwise and potentially dangerous idea. Get good spin instruction from a competent, qualified instructor with spin experience in the type of aircraft you'll be using.

Properly executed, spin recovery is quick; the spin itself is quick. One of the best accountings of spin instruction will be found in Bill Kershners works where he analyzes the phases of the spin in etended steady state spins, and he goes on to explain the myth of an established or steady state spin, too. Remember that as you continue beyond one turn, the spin may pass through a number of phases that may vary from oscillating to inverted to flat, and may even pass into areas from which recovery is not possible. So recovery may be quick, it may be slow, it may not happen at all...depending entirely on your CG, the aircraft in question, your control inputs, your experience, etc.

Far more important for you is learning to recognize the feel of the aircraft at slow speeds/high angles of attack, and stall/spin recognition and avoidance.

 

[AngelKing]

nice post avbug, makes perfect sense.

ak

 

[AngelKing]

I did spins in a Tomahawk in 1979. I still haven't recovered.

:laugh:


ak