That was my dear friend Alan Dix (still going...just).
He was correct in that it might be able to be done in a real aircraft - I am not aware of any attempts - but simulators are individual beasts. Remember: they are on jacks and can only simulate so much. The one at Burgess Hill c.2002, for example, did a wonderful spiral dive instead of a spin but recovered in classic style with anti-spin controls.
Fun indeed.