Skip Slater writes:

 

"One correction to your post - the Columbia test pilot did not bail out because of an unrecoverable spin, he bailed because he was unable to jettison his spin chute during testing. The primary and backup releases failed, so he opened the door and jumped."

 

Skip - I read your posts all the time, and they are universally well thought out.  Based on my knowledge of you through this forum I respect you greatly, so please don't take this as criticism...

 

What you state is true -- the aircraft had recovered from the spin due to the use of the spin recovery parachute, which did not subsequently jettison, so a bailout was necessary.  But the fact remains that the spin was unrecoverable, which is why the spin chute had to be used in the first place.

 

Lancair did a masterful job of "spinning" the facts in this instance.

 

- Rob Wolf