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3 Answers

Aerodynamics for spins

Asked by: 4397 views Aerodynamics

Is it true that one wing needs to be stalled and the other not stalled for a plane to enter a spin but both wings end up stalled once the spin develops? What if the plane is in a slow flight AoA and the rudder is kicked into one side with neutral ailerons? That doesn't necessarily cause one wing to be more stalled than the other but merely force it to dip toward one direction, so wouldn't the tipping merely cause a spiral? Then, why is it a concern for a possible spin when practicing stalls?

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3 Answers



  1. Nibake on May 07, 2015

    If you really want to learn about spins download the free pdf for the airplane flying handbook:

    https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aircraft/airplane_handbook/media/FAA-H-8083-3B.pdf

    and ready chapter 4 pages 12-15

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  2. Best Answer


    KiwiInstructor on Jun 19, 2015

    Hi Nibake

    one wing needs to be stalled and the other not stalled for a plane to enter a spin but both wings end up stalled once the spin develops?
    One wing just has to be deeper stalled than the other, the other (outward or upgoing) can even be still flying or stalled. once the spin is established and stabilized the same applies the (inside or downward wing) will always be your “deeper stalled”

    You have everything going on roll yaw and pitch and varying angles of attack across the wings, The short answer is for it to develop all you need is yaw at the point of the stall.

    What if the plane is in a slow flight AoA and the rudder is kicked into one side with neutral ailerons?
    Booting rudder can cause a spin because you have differing AOA’s at the tips due to forward speeds, and thats exactly how we enter an intentional spin heavy rudder and back pressure.

    tipping merely cause a spiral?
    The difference between a spiral descent and a spin is stall, a spin is an aggravated deep stall. With a spiral dive the airfoils are both still flying, the aircraft is descending with a increasing banked angle, airspeed and increasing loading.

    Why is it a concern for a possible spin when practicing stalls?
    Because an incorrect recovery of a “wingdrop stall” ie: using aileron to roll out will further deepen the stall at the tip of the downward going aileron and wing, aggravating the stall and increasing the yaw.

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  3. KiwiInstructor on Jun 19, 2015

    Sorry Nbake that should have been addressed to Drew

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