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FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S MANUAL 181 turn, one and one-half turns, two turns, etc. More than three turns should not be required or allowed. The recovery technique is somewhat different than before since the spin must be stopped accurately and not merely allowed to stop of its own accord. Therefore, instead of merely neutralizing the controls and waiting, opposite rudder is applied and the stick pushed forward until resistance is felt and the spin stops. Various aircraft will require different degrees of application of the controls, ranging from a mere centering of the rudder and relaxation of the stick to full opposite application of both, plus an accurate estimate of how far the ship will turn before they "take." This will require fine control touch and coordination, as overcontrolling with the stick will lead to an excessive dice, sometimes past the vertical or even putting the ship over on its back as in the first half of an outside loop. These results depend on the characteristics of the ships as well as the amount and duration of the application of the controls. The competent pilot will "feel" the response to the controls and apply just enough to stop the spin accurately and no more. Slow and cautious movements during recovery are to be avoided. In certain cases it has been found that such movements result in the ship's continuing to spin indefinitely even with full opposite control, whereas brisk and positive operation brings about normal recovery. Overcontrolling with the rudder will lead to a sideways, skidding recovery. Rudder should be applied just enough to make recovery in a straight line, and then relaxed to whatever is necessary to continue recovery in the straight line without readjustment. All of this presupposes a high degree of orientation. If the student is lost in the spin, he obviously cannot keep his recovery point in mind or have any idea of his position relative to it at any time. During early spin work, the average student will have very little idea of whether he is going up or down except that he sees the earth in a blur while he is rapidly whirling. As experience and ease increase, he will be able to distinguish objects on the ground. Later he will cease to revolve and the earth will be seen as a large disc, turning more or less slowly beneath him. This will give him ample time to look around, anticipate his recovery point, and stop the spin when it is reached, just as though he were recovering from a precision turn on the same mark. This last feature, the development of the ability to retain continuous orientation, is the main reason for requiring the perfection of technique in precision spins. The only known method of determining whether or not such continuous retention of orientation has been developed is through having the student demonstrate it. Precision spins also develop a higher degree of technique, knowledge of aircraft characteristics, coordination of controls, control touch, and automatic reaction. They particularly develop discipline in the control of such reflex action when the "self preservation" instincts are likely to be predominant. The competent pilot is able to perform spins with the same degree of precision and accuracy that he performs any other maneuver. Frequent spin practice is very beneficial, not only during student training, but throughout the piloting career, since it develops and
