Luckily they had 7000' to play with
However, if he had done the exercise at 2000', he would have reached Vmc at a much higher speed, and never been anywhere near the stall (assuming normally-aspirated). The best (or least bad, for those who don't like doing it) altitude at which to demonstrate Vmc safely is, of course, type-dependant, but higher is not always better. Part of the brief should also be that recovery will be initiated immediately on any indication of approaching the stall - stall warner or light buffet.
I started typing up the benefits of my method, but then stopped because.....
Ok, I'll bite, because the thread doesn't seem to be going away. Reasons for going right down to Vmc include, first of all, experiencing the amount of rudder force that's actually required, especially once the rudder trim runs out. Most students, in the BE76 at least, I've never instructed in any other type so can't comment, will claim to have run out of rudder before they actually have. Getting them to experience the last little push on the pedals might make the difference between a successful EFATO vs a crash (either because of loss of control, or because a perceived lack of rudder has caused them to close the throttles, maintaining control, but resulted in CFIT). Secondly, there's the ability to demonstrate how different techniques affect Vmc, for example wings level vs 5 degrees of bank. By repeating the exercise with different techniques, we can observe the difference in Vmc - but if Vmc is only simulated, this can't be done because it's not possible to stop the rudder travel at exactly the same physical point both times. Thirdly, there's the psychological difference in what a student gains from the exercise. Simulate Vmc, and a student appreciates that he's entered a spiral dive because the instructor won't let him use any more rudder. Demonstrate actual Vmc, and the student realises that there is physically nothing which could be done by either himself or the instructor to rectify the situation except to perform the correct recovery.
I did a straw poll of instructors at my school (it's not a big school, so it was quite a small straw poll!) and none of them had ever heard of Vmc being simulated before - we all, without exception, demonstrate actual Vmc to our students. I need to speak to a CAA staff examiner at some point on a completely unrelated matter, but while I'm there, I'll make a point of asking him what his opinion his.
FFF
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