Taking a wrap to stall

[pilotdave 0]

Not sure how they're similar.

I think there are a lot of problems with mandatory spin training. First of all, avoiding a spin is MUCH more important than recovering from one. The situations where planes inadvertantly enter spins are usually too low for recovery.

But anyway, you're a more knowledgable pilot because you took spin training (they are fun!). You're a more knowledgable canopy pilot because you've stalled your canopy. What's the problem?

Dave

[kallend 2,027]

Quote

Not sure how they're similar.

I think there are a lot of problems with mandatory spin training. First of all, avoiding a spin is MUCH more important than recovering from one. The situations where planes inadvertantly enter spins are usually too low for recovery.

But anyway, you're a more knowledgable pilot because you took spin training (they are fun!). You're a more knowledgable canopy pilot because you've stalled your canopy. What's the problem?

Dave

Well, if I modified an Ercoupe to make it spin, what would I learn about handling an unmodified Ercoupe? I consider taking a wrap on a canopy that won't normally stall to be much the same.

And if you read PD's manual on the Stiletto (for just one example) it seems that what you learn with careful control inputs may be nothing like what happens with more abrupt inputs (which are "strongly discouraged").

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[pilotdave 0]

Spin training in a citabria or extra 300 might not be much like a real inadvertant spin in a mooney (though the "backwards" tail on mooneys is all about spin recovery), but any pilot is probably better off having some exposure to spins in some aircraft, even if it's not what they normally fly. Stalling a canopy teaches you something about canopy flight. Sure, if your canopy won't stall without taking wraps, you probably won't ever stall it by mistake. But does that make the training useless?

A stilleto's a different story. Fully elliptical canopies are likely to spin up when stalled. That's like choosing to do spin training in a plane with a big placard on the panel that says "spins prohibited." There's a reason that sign is there.

I'm not trying to argue that stalling a canopy is the most important thing anyone could ever do. I'm just saying that it's one more thing anyone can learn about canopy flight.

Dave

[billvon 3,000]

>Well, if I modified an Ercoupe to make it spin, what would I learn
> about handling an unmodified Ercoupe?

How to stop a spin. As I am sure you are aware, it is possible to both stall and spin an Ercoupe; limiting control travel does not limit the range of what the atmosphere can do to you. Same with canopies.