CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 13 Issue 1 - 32

CFI TOOLS
The day of spin training had arrived. I anxiously
preflighted the airplane. I felt the urge to inspect every
inch of the fuselage twice to make sure it would not come
apart during the spin.
My instructor and I departed the pattern for the practice
area. 'It's now or never,' I thought, white knuckles
clamped on the yoke. He asked if I was all right. I nodded
confirmation, determined to go through with it.
'Let me demonstrate the first spin. Keep your hands on
the yoke and your feet on the rudder so you feel the input
needed for spin entry and recovery. We'll do this one to
the left,' said my instructor. He set up a stall with a hint of
power. At the break, he idled the throttle, maintained full
aft yoke, and kicked full left rudder. The earth rotated in
the windshield. My head seemed to snap backwards, and I
became totally disoriented.
After my instructor pushed opposite rudder, the airplane
stopped turning. We were in a dive. 'Notice how I gently
pull back on the yoke to avoid exceeding the redline,' he
calmly commented.
It now was my turn. A fly buzzed across the control panel
oblivious to my fate. He seemed unaffected by the earlier
spin. Encouraged by that thought, I flew the airplane into
a left spin and once again, the earth came up to greet me. I
was prepared. Right rudder and forward pressure on the
yoke stopped the spinning motion. A glance at the airspeed
indicator revealed that speed was accelerating toward the
redline at an alarming rate. I instinctively wanted to yank
the yoke back but then remembered to gradually pull the
nose up.
It was an awesome experience. A feeling of relief swept
over me, and my anxiety began to subside. I practiced
some more spins to the left and several to the right.
Proud of my accomplishment, I felt like an ace when we
returned to the airport. I had confronted the fiend and
defeated it.
Spin training has been invaluable to me. Without it, I
would have always been subjected to the fear of the
unknown: the spin that looms behind every uncoordinated
maneuver. With it, I have gained a better understanding
of aerodynamics and of my limitations and capabilities.
I now know how to cope with the worst that can happen
when a stall goes wrong. "
Essential
Aerodynamics
Stalls, Spins, and Safety
Help your students understand aerodynamic
principles that matter-but forget dry textbooks
and dense equations. This online course
covers vital concepts in an easy-to-digest,
straightforward manner. From animated graphics
that explain the fundamental forces of flight to
simple rules to live by, Essential Aerodynamics
provides an improved awareness of what could
lead to unintended upsets during maneuvering
and cruise flight.
To take the course log into your free account. If
you or your student hasn't registered with the
AOPA website, you can create a free account to
take the course.
Machteld Smith is an aviation technical writer for the
AOPA Air Safety Institute. She holds a commercial pilot
certificate with multiengine, instrument, and seaplane
ratings. She loves flying seaplanes and the adventure of
landing on rivers and lakes!
Email: machteld.smith@aopa.org
https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/online-learning/online-courses/essential-aerodynamics https://www.aopa.org/login
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 13 Issue 1

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 13 Issue 1
