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Old 23rd Dec 2015, 12:42
  #27 (permalink)  
9 lives
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Aerobatics training from a qualified instructor for new PPLs is excellent. PPL solo self taught aerobatics, or much worse with Pax is a really bad idea.

As your total piloting time doubles, you will look back at the previous half time with alarm, realizing how much you did not know, and how close you came some times. I still do... Listen to the advice here to take it easy, and grow your skills and experience with learned caution.

I was taught spiral descents as a standard way to descend rapidly. Power-off, a combination of bank-angle and enough G to stop the speed building up too much... are they really such a bad idea?
A spiral descent is fine, if flown within limitations, and without an increase on speed on the way down. They differ from a spiral dive, which is an unstable maneuver, with alarming increase in speed, and likely increase in bank angle and G. The instant you realize you are in a spiral dive, initiate recovery, there is no time to fool around there. Follow your training.

While flying spiral descents with "enough G", how are you measuring that? All certified aircraft have stated G limitations, but nearly none are equipped with G meters. Have a good plan to understand how you will not exceed limitations. Angle of bank is a good way during turns, as long as you're paying attention. Pull outs offer much more opportunity to overstress a plane, and the angle of bank trick won't help you...
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