Originally Posted by
Fareastdriver
In 1962 our Vampires were getting a bit twitter and bisted. Aircraft would have red line entries in the F700 like: 'Not to be spun solo' or 'No intentional spins.' Entry would vary even on the straight ones. Sometimes there would be a lazy roll and then pitch down; other times there would be two vicious flicks and you were in
Recovery was standard and it would recover between two to four or more turns depending on altitude.
On the walk round before flight one would shake one boom to ascertain whether the other boom shaked at the same rate.
During the last years of the dual seat Vampires in the RAAF 1968-69 spinning was verboten because we were told (no access to flight manual then just poorly roneoed, poorly typed, very difficult to read, greasy pages) fuel in the gas bags in wings would likely burst out. So feet on floor and fly to the beginning burble - no harsh control movements. We had no twitter then - we wuz just bisted.
Intentional Spinning in A4G Skyhawk forbidden but many pages in NATOPS explain about recovery techniques from such activities if required. 'Luckily' spin training was undertaken in the radial prop Winjeel and as I recall could be quite a violent experience - depending on entry conditions but relatively easy recovery.
Early on the Macchi MB326H was spinnable in all modes until the RAAF found that inverted spins were problematic - then banned. However they failed to inform the RAN FAA so we lost one (both pilots ejected safely) from an unrecoverable inverted spin demo with the front seat student on first fam flight. As I recall (having been converted to them at QFI Heaven East Sale) all the spins were nice and recovery easy enough.
Being one of the last Sea Venom DELMAR target towing pilots it was commonplace to do preflight accompanied by the AEO (Air Engineer Officer) explaining why it was OK to have this part cracked or bent or not lined up with other parts with the booms particularly out of alignment due to drag from DELMAR target when streamed. Geez they were crappy Venoms.