>>Anyway, if I demonstrate an auto as an AFI I can only do them to a recover to the hover anyway. I personally don't see the point of going to the ground because the important part of an auto is an entry. If the student masters the initial entry, control all the way down, and knows the drill, then he has every chance of saving himself.
We all have our own ideas on this I guess.
I learned to fly using the R22 HP without a governor, and , having the lower tail, was great fun drawing lines on grass strips with the stinger!!!!!! <<
I agree with this although I have yet to do one to touchdown in the 22 myself (once my CFI did one from straight in and 180 for show).
I love doing straight auto's, 180 autos .... Am I supposed to be nervous at the end
So far sometimes, however I'll soon be doing them to the ground itself, my thought was always "What if I have to do one for real?" Well, I'll nail the entry and ride down, and figure if I have that part done, then when I'm near the ground, pre flare and flare will commence and then I see it as keeping skids level and a bit of forward if any.
Maybe I'll get down and then flip over (seems to be the norm in most training auto mishaps I've read) but I'm convinced that I likely will survive the experience.