Why Planes Spin
Big Idea
A spin happens when one wing stalls more than the other — usually from uncoordinated flight at slow speed.
Fun Fact
The ball instrument is your anti-spin device — keep it centered and you cannot spin!
What You Will Learn
- Understand that a spin = stall + yaw
- Uncoordinated flight (ball off center) can cause a spin
- The rudder is what starts AND stops a spin
- Prevention is better than cure: keep the ball centered!
Simulator Steps
- Set up in slow flight and watch the ball indicator
- Instructor shows what happens when the ball is off center during a stall
- One wing drops faster than the other — that is the start of a spin
- Practice keeping the ball centered during slow flight
- If the ball drifts, step on it immediately
What You Learned
- Spin = stall + yaw (one wing stalls first)
- Keep the ball centered to prevent spins
- Step on the ball to stay coordinated