It's not as scary as you think!

When I first received my training syllabus - I read it end to end. Actually I'm pretty sure I downloaded the version online months before I actually started flight training and read it end to end. Hmm - I probably read it end to end both time as a matter of fact! The first thing that you notice on there is where it says "First Solo". The SECOND thing you notice is where it tells you that you will practice spins. Following that it says "It's not as scary as you think". Anytime I see an obvious disclaimer such as this - I get weary.

It's interesting actually that when speaking with other pilots and student pilots at the club, everyone always wants to know where you are at with your training. After they realize you are still a student they ask you "Have you had your solo yet?". If the answer is no the next question is "Have you done your spins yet?". Whether the answer is yes or no - everyone starts to go on about spins. Most people say they are lots of fun, the odd person says they are freaky. I had no idea what they were talking about - but I assure you that I was extremely nervous about the spins.

Today my flight was with I3. We were easily under the weight restriction for spins so there was no backing out. It was a warm sunny day without a cloud in site. Winds were light and no reports of turbulence. When we got into the aircraft she asked "So are you ready to do some spins today?" I answered her honestly. "I am ready to do them because I want to learn how to identify and recover from them, but I'm quite nervous right now".

I knew right from the start that the flight was going to be a good one. I felt a certain amount of confidence (not a lot, but more than usual) as I strapped in, went through the checklists, set up the radios, and began the taxi. The takeoff, speeds, and transition to straight and level on course was as smooth as any I had. The radio work on this day felt as natural as it is when I sit in front of my computer flying the simulator under virtual ATC.

On the way to the practice area we discussed the spin entry and recovery process we would be working on. I brought up the practice area because I wanted to be able to make the calls while we were in there without adding any jibber jabber. When I3 explained what area we would be hoping to work in it dawned on me that I was finally starting to understand the layout of the practice area itself and the different areas within it.

Once established in the practice area we climbed higher and completed our HASEL safety checks. I3 pulled the throttle back and pitched the aircraft into nose up attitude. The speed started to fall off quickly. I realized that I was very tense at this point and many thoughts were running through my brain. "What if I get dizzy or puke?", "What if I get all disoriented and confused?", "Why if I can't do this?", "Why am I so tense?". As the stall horn started to wail away she pulled all the way back and we entered the stall. At this point she slammed the rudder full left causing time and space to ground to a near halt.

Maybe everyone is like this or perhaps just me, but there are many times in my life when everything goes into ultra slow motion. My entire being becomes completely self aware. My thoughts are focused and all senses are heightened.

"Concentrate". The aircraft banked steeply to the left while the nose was still high.

"Keep your eyes open". The bank continued and it felt as if we were now inverted.

"Feel the moment, live the moment". The nose came around suddenly and was pointed directly at the ground.

"We are in the spin". The nose continued to point at the ground and the aircraft continued to spin. I noted how the sections of land, highways, and rivers below appeared to spin clockwise.

"Observe the instruments". Our airspeed was messed up, the Gyro was spinning, and our altitude was decreasing.

"Hey! I don't feel sick or disoriented at all!". I changed my view from outside to inside and then back outside again. Although we were spinning it almost appeared that we were floating towards the earth below.

The sound of my inner James Earl Jones baritone inner voice was interrupted by I3's voice. "Now we apply opposite rudder to break the spin and down elevator to break the stall". We stopped spinning and now the aircraft started to fly again.

This was apparent by the nearly immediate sound of the prop. As I3 gently pulled back on the elevator the airspeed increased dramatically well into the yellow arc. The noise of spinning was incredible and before I knew it we were in a nose up attitude again. The airspeed dropped off quickly and as she leveled off some power was added.

The feeling I experienced was incredible. It was not scary at all. The aircraft was not completely out of control. I did not feel all sick and disoriented, in fact it was simply to focus both inside the aircraft on the instruments or outside at the spinning earth without losing any focus.

I3 turned to me immediately and asked "OK, how was that?". "Incredible!". "I'm only required to demonstrate the spin entry, identification and recovery to you. So you don't actually have to take control for one. I can do a few more or if you would like I can put the aircraft into a spin and let you recover from it - does that work for you?"

The words escaped my mouth immediately - "HELL YA!".

We performed probably 6 - 8 or more spins from that point in both directions. After the first two I caught on and was able to recover quickly and with some authority. The terror and fear had been exorcised from my mind.

The flight back was uneventful. Traffic was light as we entered the circuit and lined up on final. The touchdown was not bad as was the taxi back to the club. The drive back was probably with as much adrenaline as my first drive out to the club a mere 5 weeks earlier.

9.8 Hours and counting...