Is spinning an airplane scary?

Question

I've had a very hard time overcoming the fear of stalls and actually doing some. Now I have no problem stalling the airplane. Right now however, my uncle wants to take me up and show me some spins. Are spins that scary? How bad are they compared to a power on or secondary stall? If I experience enough, will I get used to them to the point where they don't seem like a big deal?

Answer 1

They are scary when it happens when your not intentionally trying to perform them, or even more scary when done in an aircraft is this not certified, and operating in the aerobatic or ulitiy catagory.



With the knowledge of what is happening and the correct procedures to safely enter and recover from a spin, and spin awareness training, they are not any more scary then any other maneuver. They are a little eye opening on what exaclty can happen when the aircraft spins, when your doing 360's every few seconds, and fun when done in a safe enviroment.

Answer 2

As some one previously pointed out, make sure ANYONE teaching you or demonstrating something for you is qualified to do so.



As for "scary", I recall in my own life having an irrational fear of stalls about one year before I "bit the bullet" and began my flight instruction. I got to sit in on some flight instruction in the back seat of a C-172 while the student learned stall recognition and recovery. I was nervous even being a passenger not knowing what to expect. After realizing that when in capable hands, stalls were nothing to be feared.



After that, my instructors drilled me on stalls and spins to the point where I have been desensitized completely to the "scare" factor. Instead, during the onset of a stall or spin, my training kicks in and almost instinctively takes whatever corrective action is necessary.



Think of something else in your life that you were once scared of (roller coasters, driving for the first time) but over time you overcame the scary part. This too shall pass with regard to spins.

Answer 3

If you had trouble with stalls, you'll have trouble with spins. Start out by practicing an aggressive stall series, particularly departure stalls in turns. Next, practice incipient spin entries, power off, from a cross-controlled stall. Once you're comfortable with that, and I mean really comfortable, then learn to do full-blown spins and recoveries. While your uncle can demonstrate, if he's competent, I wouldn't allow him to teach you unless he's a qualified CFI. Personally, I think you should go to a flight school that teaches upset training and aerobatics to properly learn about spins.

Answer 4

They scare me...... heavily: no might desire to rigidity approximately stalls and spins. A stall is a very benign maneuver that once accomplished wisely is little extra then a dip of the front of the airplane and thats it. maximum coaching airplane (Cessna especially) will get better itself from the two a stall and a spin. Spins could be a sprint unsettling in the initiating yet you heavily isn't required to do extra then clarify them and the restoration from them. lower back a Cessna will get better itself from the spin. In a stall or a spin you will not pull any Gs in any respect, in fact if the spin is entered from a bypass administration you will "pull" damaging Gs for a fragment of a 2nd (weightless). Have your instructor instruct you the completed stall sequence and clarify what he's doing and why, in basic terms watch what he does and how the airplane responds.. After seeing this as quickly as you will think of not something of it.. Kinda like a curler coaster once you have been a baby.. frightening till you probably did it as quickly as. Then in case you choose, he can instruct you a spin yet keep in mind, that's not required for a private certificates.

Answer 5

Good job on overcoming the fear of stalls!



I have only done a couple of spins. They do not scare me but it's very hard for me to keep my head on straight during one. I think for you, just like the stalls, once you get used to them they won't phase you. It's very important to know how to recover from a spin and your uncle is right in teaching you.



Is he a CFI?

Answer 6

I soloed in the mid 50s in a rag wing tail dragger. My instructor insisted I demonstrate stall and spin recovery before I was allowed to solo. I can't imagine riding in a light plane with a pilot that didn't have that training. What's the big deal?

Answer 7

My first concern is that you said your uncle wants to show you. Is he qualified to? That's something you should experience with a qualified instructor.



As for how scary they are, well, it depends on you and the airplane you do them in. If you can handle aggressive power-on stalls, then I'd bet that they won't bother you that much.



Any fear can be overcome if you have the drive to get over it and you are willing to force yourself to experience that fear over and over. I, like you, hated doing stalls when I first started learning to fly. After forcing myself to experience them, I grew to enjoy them. It was the same with spins for me. I didn't like doing it at first but I forced myself to do it over and over until I thought they were fun. Not only that, if we're talking about doing them in a Cessna 172 they are nothing. Cessnas don't spin very well at all.



If you really want to get over any fears like this, take some lessons with an aerobatic instructor. It might scare the crap out of you at first, but it will get you over it.

Answer 8

It is certainly an unusual experience, but learning to recover from one can be a valuable skill.



I would only practice these with a CFI and keep in mind that spins are prohibited in certain airplanes.



Desensitization: the more that you do it, the more accustomed to the experience that you will become.