Spirals, Descents

Lesson Objective

The student will learn the hazards of the "Graveyard Spiral", the benefits of the "benign spiral", entry and recovery techniques from spiral descents. Also, the student will learn to expedite a return with a spiral descent.

Regulatory Requirement

• Student Pilot Candidates: §61.87(i)(15)

Content

• Spiral turn entry
• Recovery from spiral turns

Completion Standards

The student must be able to perform

• a spiral descent with and without air brakes
• the appropriate form of recovery from steeply-banked turn with nose low attitude
• the hazards of inappropriate recovery from spiral dives.

The student must be able to explain

• the hazards of spiral descents
• the differences between spiral descents and spins
• the recovery technique from a spiral descent
• the incorrect techniques for recovery from a spiral descent
• the benefits of a benign spiral.

Prerequisite Study

• Learning to Fly Gliders, pages 76 and 77
• Glider Flying Handbook, page 7-25

Recommended Study

• Skylines, June 2005 "Stay Safe in Wave", article about benign spirals.