I am sure that I am comparatively much more uneducated than you, Southern Cross. I thought the article well done, as it stated the author's position very clearly and succinctly, knowing that it will probably attract strong comment and perhaps even censure. As to the suggested technique, like you I would not set out to investigate it without a highly experienced aerobatic instructor sitting next to me (a bit tricky in a Yak 50, I appreciate). Of course, ordinarily when we go spinning we find that the aircraft recovers quickly with the standard inputs. If I was ever in the position where the aircraft failed to respond, Alan's article might at the least prompt me to try one more thing before jumping out or, as the case might be, making a hole somewhere in Berkshire.
Presumably pilots testing the Bulldog and indeed any type must experiment with recoveries power on, off, in between, wearing a green hat, wearing a blue hat, wearing no hat, shouting "caramba" in Polish etc etc. I can recall seeing Bulldog spinning debated at length on pprune on more than one occasion, but can't remember if anyone ever discussed the ideas canvassed in the article.
I shall be interested to talk it over with my co-owners, both of whom are QFIs, and some of the other aeros specialists at Waltham.
I've posted a cross reference to this in the Instructor's forum in the hope that some of the regulars there will let us have their thoughts on the subject, or, at the least, entertain us by re-telling the amusing tale of the "Bulldog Cabriolet".
[ 15 February 2002: Message edited by: FNG ]</p>