Champ - inadvertent spin & recovery

[john-ranger]

I'm not going to try this with my 46' Champ, but for planning purposes what can a non acrobatic pilot expect to lose in elevation from a inadvertent spin? I was reading an article that suggested that many "modern" trainers can take in excess of a 1000' to recover from a spin. As many of this stall/spins happen in the pattern where the AGL is about 1000' that gave me cause to reflect what the Champ might do in such circumstances.

[David Johnson]

If you enter a spin at 1,000 feet without training, your goose is cooked. Things happen way too fast, coupled with altitude loss, and the game is over. Even an experienced pilot with lots of spin experience can buy the farm. When you couple the surprise factor, and the speed of things, the results most likely will not be good. What an experienced pilot can do is recognize what is happening and stop the spin before it gets started. Or stop it before the plane is over on it's back. It would be great for you to get some spin training, then 50-60 spins later come back and give us your opinion then. I would like to see everyone get spin training. The Champ is a very stable, predictable spinning bird. Make sure your weight and balance is current and correct. Then run some numbers and stay within limits. To the best of my memory, I can spin a Champ and recover to level flight in around 4-600 feet. That is 1 turn and with recovery controls applied around 3/4 turn. Maybe a little less if you are perfect. Let's hear some other opinions! David J.

[David Johnson]

P.S. It is also important to note that in these old airplanes the RUDDER is the primary spin control. Aileron abuse will lots of times make things worse. Remember, when properly rigged, these birds do not have any wash out. If a wing starts down, and you throw the stick over to lift that wing, you can really stall that wing good when the aileron comes down. Then the plane does exactly opposite to what you wanted! I have noticed this mainly with a really deep power on stall. Very shocking. David J.

[15A]

Haven't completed my Champ yet, but regardless, I have always felt that spin training should be mandatory to receive your pilots license.
I got my license in my C-120, and requested my instructor to teach me spins before I went for my check ride. My first one was a 'white-knuckle' experiance. After that, I really learned how to spin and recover with minimal altitude loss.
Pattern altitude is your perfect set-up for a spin. Base to final at 400 feet. Low, slow, and in a 90 degree turn. If you should let your inside wing stall, she's going! The trick is not to let that happen. And to know the signs (and there are signs!) when you're getting close to the stall.
Airspeed...airspeed...airspeed! You can always loose it, it's tough to create it without altitude loss. But, if you do get caught, nose down pronto and opposite rudder and pull it back AFTER you've regained some airspeed.

Joe

[joea]

One of the worst things that ever happened in primary pilot training IMHO was when they eliminated the spin training.

[mike newall]

For you ladies and gents who haven't done spin technique, remember this one - developed by Mssrs Muller and Beggs, one Swiss and one US, both highly experienced aerobatic pilots.

If you are in a spin,

FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT - CLOSE THE THROTTLE.

Let go of the controls, whichever rudder pedal is closer to you, press it fully and get ready to catch the stick !!

The stick will float in a back position 'in spin'.

Once rotation stops - centralise the controls before you spin the other way and recover from the dive.

Works for all standard configuration aeroplanes.

Better still, go get some spin and unusual attitude training, it doesn't cost much, it is huge fun and may save your life one day