Jeepers, this certainly is a big forum with lots of views. Maybe I�m getting out of my comfort zone. I will try one more time though.
There was never a spinning accident in my 20 years that I can remember. The 707 was a special and very isolated case that should never have happened. The procedure there cannot be compared to spinning in a glider. Spinning both the Winjeel and Macchi solo were requirements in 1974/5. We had to check that the "Dolls eyes" operated at a sensible time to indicate no fuel in either of the tip tanks. We were told then that the biggest risk to flying was hitting another Macchi, probably coming the other way. BTW, I remember getting my met briefing from Mike Borgelt (and comparing notes on thermistors and wheatstone bridges). Training accidents certainly were not acceptable at 1FTS/2FTS. It was more likely at the Mirage and helicopter squadrons due to the ACFT and their roles so I guess you mean acceptable losses there and at battle stations generally in your post. We haven�t lost a Hercules yet and yes, trash haulers had to leant aerobatics and spinning too. Mal Williams tells me that interservice gliding is at risk because of the perceived dangers. (Hitting onother service glider?) I didn�t see that coming when I helped set the program up in the late 70�s. So I think it is safe to say accidents are not acceptable in the Air Force and yet they still insist on spin training. (Shame about the interservice gliding though) My civilian flying job requires the same rigorous training that I came to expect in the Air Force. Unusual attitudes on instruments, autorotations, simulated tail rotor failures and simulator training for the really dangerous ones. How is this relevant I hear you ask. Gliding also requires a certain standard if we are to continue to enjoy the expected freedom. Standards across the board are hard to test for so we had better be able to do those that we can test for easily. Simulators cost too much money so that means spin training. But I'm getting drawn off the subject. I think a rounded pilot is a confident pilot and this makes a better pilot. He has more to call on when things don't go as planned. When someone asks why to spinning or outlanding practice, it could have been; why a no instrument circuit and landing, why a side slipping approach, why a modified circuit. One may never need to use them but it is comforting for the pilot and his club to know that he can if need be and it gives an indication of ones ability in other areas that cannot be tested so easily. Time for dinner. ;-) Quoting Anthony Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > We aren't in the Air Force(thank God). Air forces(and the military in > general) take much higher chances of killing their people in training than > is acceptable for civilians. This is rational as the prime purpose is to > accomplish the mission and if it takes material and people to do that - > that is how it is. > > However as I remember it the RAAF didn't encourage spinning the Macchi back > in the early 70's. I got to do extensive aerobatics in it but nobody talked > about spinning it. Intentional solo spinning for the students wasn't > allowed was it?(I was the base met man for 3 years and met men were > encouraged to fly) > > ----------------- > > To answer Mike's question on spinning Macchi's: From my conversations with > the ARDU test pilots in the very early 90's. The Macchi span like a top and > had an exceptionally high descent rate in the spin. Once wound up it took > some time to unwind too. Under some circumstances it tended to go flat > (Sounds like a Pooch doesn't it!) and took even longer to recover. > > At the time of my flight in a Macchi the doctrine was to start very high and > recover by 10,000 ft. If you passed thru 10,000' and still spinning you > were supposed to eject. The 'legend' was that if you hadn't recovered as > you went thru 10k, you weren't going to recover before the ground got in the > way. > > Anthony > > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > Best regards, Daryl _____________________________________________ This email (including all attachments) is confidential. It may contain personal information and is intended solely for the named addressee. Confidentiality is not waived or lost because this email has been sent to you by mistake. If you have received it in error, please let me know by reply email, delete it from your system and destroy any copies. This email is also subject to copyright. No part of it should be reproduced, adapted, or published without my written consent, as the copyright owner, or communicated or forwarded to anyone other than me. 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