At the time part of AUGC's decision to buy the Puchatek was because we could use it for spin training to replace our Bocian.
I think the polish glider characteristic of requiring correct spin recovery technique is good. Unfortunately many german built types let you off with partial recovery. We used to use the Bocian to demonstrate that if you just used opposite rudder only, you could reverse the direction of the spin and it wouldn't recover unless the stick also came forward. The comment I made before about the Puchacz, was that I wondered if the accidents had occurred because people got used to never having to do a full proper spin recovery in it and where just doing what they had always gotten away with in the previous trainer they had used. When I flew in NZ, I was told to spin the Standard Jantar I flew as part of the coversion I had to it. Since I had plenty of height, I had heaps of fun exploring its characteristics. I used the entries Jarek describes, as well as the "spin entry off a shallow turn" and also "simulated cable breaks on the winch at height" entries. I also found it interesting to provoke it from thermalling turns so I would know what it was like before I started competing in it. I thought it spun pretty much like I expected a Polish glider to. I'd only spun the Puchacz, Puchatek and Bocian polish gliders before. Years ago someone gave me some advice when I was new to the Boomerang, which I've never forgotten. He suggested that coming out of winter, I practice getting the Boomerang close to spin entries in thermalling to remind myself of its characteristics. The Ventus spins well too :) I think if a glider is rated for spins, then there is no problem doing them. They are no different to any other aerobatics that are approved for the type. I am not a test pilot and will not spin any aeroplane not rated for it. This view emphasised when I saw a video of NASA spin testing a Grumman 2 seater (I have a share in a 4 seater AA5). It completely failed to respond to any spin recovery techniques until they deployed the parachute from the tail! Interestingly, while spinning is not a compulsary part of power training, I was told its optional. When I got my PPL, the school I did it with likes to do spins with students in either a C152 aerobat or a Pitts. I was told I would be doing those spins. When I was told that I'd be having my licence test, I complained that I hadnt had the spin lesson yet and was told that my positive attitude to the exercise had made them decide it was not necessary for me to do them - bugger! :) They know about glider pilots :) -Cath > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf > Of Jarek Mosiejewski > Sent: Thursday, 23 September 2004 9:27 AM > To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia . > Subject: Re: RE: RE: [Aus-soaring] IS28 ADs (was Reasons NOT > to spin for fun ) > > > It's been noticed in this thread that all Polish gliders to > spin. This is, I believe reflected > in the way Polish glider pilots are trained. > Being fully trained Polish pilot (mid 70') and having flown > in Australia for more than 10 > years, I though I might share my experience. > > Firstly, every trainee pilot in Poland receives full spinning > and spin recovery training > before going solo. Actually completion of this stage is a > pre-requisite of going solo. > > Secondly, a spin is considered and thought to be an aerobatic > figure. To spin a glider, > you are instructed to keep normal, level attitude, and then > close to the pre-stall speed, > you pull on the stick and initiate rudder action in the > desired direction of spin and hold > it back thorough the spin. When recovering, emphasis is to > recover in a pre-chosen > direction, usually, one or two full revolution. This is what > you would be expected to do > when asked to spin by a Polish instructor. I do not quite > recall practicing incipient > spins as much as it is done in Australia. > > Every instructor in Australia I flew with was somewaht > dismissive of the above method > of initiating a spin, unless I told up-front what I was about to do. > > In Poland, part of Silver C training (in Poland rating > called, glider pilot class 2) includes > aerobatics training: spinning, loops and wing-overs. This is > done in a two-seater > (Bocian, Puchacz) and a single-seater, now day Junior, I did > it in Mucha 100. > > Part of class 1 glider pilot training includes advanced > aerobatics which includes slow > rolls and snap rolls and linking all aerobatic figures. This > is done in Puchacz. > > Converting to a new aircraft in Poland requires three > flights; one of them includes > mandatory spinning and aerobatics. > > I am not trying to prove which system is better. Here in > Australia we fly such a variety > of gliders with completely different spinning characteristics > that it is perhaps hard to > device a standard approach for all of them and admittedly I > do not hear about as many > spinning accidents as I used to Poland, however, I think the > Polish system makes the > pilot more comfortable with spinning. > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo> /aus-soaring > > _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
