Originally Posted by
Pace
BigPistons
So we are agreed the damage is done in a spiral dive and the students havent a clue whether they are in a spin or spiral dive?
Thought so! but that just echos my point that both spins and spiral dives should be thoroughly taught and highlights my point that we teach aeroplane driving not flying nowadays?
Pace
I guess we will have to agree to disagree on this one. The aircraft would not have been damaged if the student had not started out trying to do a multi-turn spin so the fact that technically it was in a spiral dive when it was bent is immaterial. It would also not have happened if the spin was taught as part of an aerobatic training program.
You won't make aircraft aircraft drivers into aircraft pilots by teaching them spins IMO. Aircraft pilots don't need to learn how to enter and recover from a fully developed spin because this maneuver is of no practical value during non aerobatic flight. Instead of spending valuable training time practicing the entry and exit parts of spins I think it is far more valuable to emphasize the airmanship and stick and rudder skills required for spin recognition and avoidance and rapid recovery from an incipient spin.
Since I teach aerobatics I give all my students the hard sell on going on to formal aerobatic training as a way to further build flying skills and aircraft handling confidence...and where they will be taught spinning by an instructor competent and confident regardless of what the aircraft attitude/orientation is, and in a proper aircraft.