D129
It doesn't look like anyone has answered your question?
I'm not sure when spin training for PPL stopped in the UK but it was before I started my PPL in 1990. I think it was more to do with the fact that many schools had aircraft that were not cleared for spin training; this obviously made it difficult for them to operate without having something that could.
I started gliding in the mid 80's and everybody had to do spin training before solo (at my club anyway) I didn't know that had changed, but if it has it's probably for the same reason as above. I know some of the modern glass gliders are very difficult to spin and need ballast on the tail in order to do so. Gliders are very benign in the spin compared to powered aircraft. Rotation rates are slow and recovery almost instantanious. I remember watching the national coach of the time putting perspective CFI's through their paces at North Hill once. He was putting them into spins and having them recover not above 1000' ... there were a few ashen faces that day!
Talking of PA38 tails ... look at a gliders wings when pulling hard, or an airliners wing tips going up and down. It's things that don't flex when they should that you must worry about. Wood and fabric or tube and fabric aircraft don't "shudder" or "drum" like ally ones ... but they still flex. Also, although PA38's have changed, I think if they have four spars less than before then they must be left with no spars? ... now there's an interesting idea
SS
SS