Spins...

[RSCherry]

Here's a basic question from an aerobatics newbie-

What is the proper way to get into and (more importantly) out of a spin?

[Dick]

This is a fun and easy maneuver that can be done with even a simple rudder and elevator plane. Done correctly it is not hard on a plane. First of all the best way to start until you get some practice in is to get up to altitude (remember saftey in altitude while learning aerobatics) and take the plane up in a sharpe climb. Just before it stalls out reduce the throttle and give full left or right rudder and full up. Hold these as the plane spins and after a number of spins you just neutralize the controls and slowly give up elevator until you are back to level flight. If you do not pull up to fast it will not put to much wing loading on the plane. There are several versions of the above, but this will give you a good start and from there you can build confidence to do other aerobatics. If you plane is designed to handle the stresses of aerobatics, you can invent and just have a ball throwing it around the sky. I don't have any clue as to what your plane is but most will handle spins quite easily. I have been learning on a Crazy Max and it is a ball. Gud Flying.........Dick

[Dick]

This is a fun and easy maneuber that can be done with even a simple rudder and elevator plane. Done correctly it is not hard on a plane. First of all the best way to start until you get some practice in is to get up to altitude (remember saftey in altitude while learning aerobatics) and take the plane up in a sharpe climb. Just before it stalls out reduce the throttle and give full left or right rudder and full up. Hold these as the plane spins and after a number of spins you just neutralize the controls and slowly give up elevator until you are back to level flight. If you do not pull up to fast it will not put to much wing loading on the plane. There are several versions of the above, but this will give you a good start and from there you can build confidence to do other aerobatics. If your plane is designed to handle the streessed of aerobatics, you can invent and just have a ball throwing it around the sky. I don't have any clue as to what your plane is but most will handle spins quite easily. I have been learning on a Crazy Max and it is a ball. Gud Flying........Dick

[RSCherry]

Dick:

That is exactly what a guy at work told me also. He is a flight instructor (for real aircraft), so I figured he knew what he was talking about.

I'm flying a Wattage Sukhoi. The maneuvers I'm working on so far are the basics- loop, roll, inverted flight, Immelman, split ess, cuban 8, snap rolls. Just started trying knife edge last week (needs a lot of work). While I've not mastered any of them, it's fun to practice on a plane that's easy to repair.

Bob

[Smash McCrash]

One fun way to get into one is the way that I was introduced to them... Snap roll at the top of a climb, reduce throttle and hold the snap inputs for the spin. I believe the Suhkoi can handle the tight spin that you will be in. To get out, neutralize controls and fly out... Inverted if you wish. Lots of fun watching the little planes really wind up in the spin.

Inverted spins are just as easy... Just hold in down elevator instead of up elevator. Simple.

Mike :D

[RSCherry]

Sounds easy enough, can't wait to try it. Right now it's too cold and windy here (Pennsylvania) for any flying. Does anyone have any video of a properly executed spin?

[flyfalcons]

My favorite spin right now has to be the Knife Edge Spin. Just as you stall the plane, apply full down elevator, left aileron, and left rudder, and the plane should fall into a knife edge spin. Add a little power to get the plane to wind up really tight. You have to have a lot of elevator and rudder to do this maneuver well, otherwise it looks like you are just falling down sideways. There is a good video of a well-executed knife edge spin at www.3dbatix.com

[RSCherry]

We finally had a decent (but cold) day yesterday so I was able to try some spins. Worked great- and I'm happy to report there was no foam scattered about afterwards, either. Thanks for the pointers and advice! I'm looking forward to trying the knife edge spin soon, too.

[Mike Payne]

i will try this knife edge spin, my electrics may not have the power to get them through it.

[DigitalFlyer]

I was trying to spin to but had no luck. I think I was going too fast and the plane just kind of steered in the direction of the controlls. I am going to try it upun an impending stall like mentioned above and see what happens. Thanks!

-Amir

[flyfalcons]

Here's another vid, including a knife edge spin. http://www.rcsites.net/flyfalcons/RyanExtra1.wmv The first maneuver I do after takeoff is a knife edge spin. This one is a little more graceful than the one at 3dbatix.com. As you can see, you don't need much power to do it if you have plenty of rudder and elevator control. Having a relatively short-coupled plane helps too.

[PTLdom]

I could not open your posted video - couldn't donwload the appropriate decompressor. Though I got the H9 Edge 540 Knife Edge Spin flown by Meyrick Camilosa (3dbatix.com). This is a great manouver. How do you enter it? He enters a 1 second knife edge and starts a left rotaion, but what's the input sequence do do it? ... Seems down elevator is applied to start it

[flyfalcons]

PTLdom,
Download the latest Windows Media to get the current codec. I have tried entering the spin by starting a standard spin then crossing to down elevator, but half the time the plane would just spin faster and not tip spin. Now I start it (we'll say going left-right) by entering a right knife edge with left rudder, and as it slows add full down elevator and left aileron. It should fall into a knife edge spin. Add a little power to tighten the spin up if desired. To recover just release the controls, or neutralize the rudder and aileron to recover inverted. Hope this helps.

[PTLdom]

:) yeeeeeck I'm getting to it :cool:

[DigitalFlyer]

Took my switchback sport out today and followed the advise given above. I was able to get about two spins in before I got to close to the ground and pulled up. It was easy to recover from the spin, didn't even need any throttle. I tried it a few times, some with rudder and some with out, but didn't notice a difference. Next time I go out I'll try the knife edge.

-Amir