Originally Posted by
Aussie Bob
Tarq 57, your comments are fine for an experienced pilot but try it with a student often enough and you will see a botched recovery. Not a good spin trainer for sure, but plenty strong enough. Who ever heard of a 172 breaking up in flight? It would be a rare occurrence indeed.....
Sure, but we're talking about a person going on an instructors course. Hopefully they've got a bit of experience. I've only accumulated about 500 hours. In that time I've spun 152's, PA38's (shudder, but a real good spin trainer) a B121, and attempted to spin a PA28 and an Airtourer. (Those two just tend to fall into a spiral dive. I've heard of someone who managed to get a Cherokee into a properly developed spin. A bit of weight in the back was the catalyst for performing that miracle, I believe.)
Never heard of a 172 breaking up in flight. I think they're probably a lot stronger than most people imagine.