From: "Marvin Kaye" <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [LML] Re: aerobatics
To: lml
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 16:16:55 -0400
Message-ID: <web-1688699@logan.com>
In-Reply-To: <3D5C06FD.000001.01700@kenharw>
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Posted for "kenharw" <kenharw@satx.rr.com>:

I have spun my Lancair 360 ONCE.  It had about one-third full tanks in the
wings.  I was aggravating a stall and attempting to prevent one of the wings
from dropping at the time.  It snapped into a spin and began rotating fast. 
Although I relaxed the stick immediately upon spin entry it settled into a
spin instead of recovering.  Once in a spin it will behave like the
energizer bunner and will  keep spinning ... and spinning.   I used the Air
Force T-37 spin recovery method to get the nose low enough to break the spin
    There may be other methods, but this one worked the one time I was so
foolhardy as to test the plane well past the point of normal power on stall.
   This maneuver requires considerable altitude and consists of pulling stick
back all the way to your gut, full opposite rudder to slow spin rate down as
much as possible, then slam the stick to the firewall and pray that you are
not spinning too flat to recover.  Hold the stick on the firewall until you
find yourself going into a steep dive or you feel negative g's, then recover
from the dive.  The spin rate will first accelerate as the plane "flies"
closer to the spin axis, then if you are very lucky it will break the spin
and enter into a dive.  LIKE I SAID,  IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU TRY ONLY
ONCE IF YOU HAVE FUEL IN THE WINGS.  I placarded my plane against
intentional spins. 

Like George says, Fly the airplane  -- don't spin it.  Spins are
uncomfortable and are not conducive to longivity.  I talked to Dave Morss
about this about 10 years ago.   He told me it was stupid to spin this
airplane with fuel in the wings or with an aft CG.  I agree.

Ken Harwood, N15KH