26 Turn Flat Spin in a Tipsy Nipper

[RAF_Quantum]

Scary stuff

"The spin was supposed to be a normal erect spin to the right, but for various unintentional reasons the spin went flat, up until that point I had never flat spun an aircraft. I eventualy mananged to get the aircraft into a normal erect spin from which I was able to recover. This aircraft is not fitted with an electric starter motor, so I was unable to restart the engine. During the "flare" to land the main undercarriage caught the top wires of a barbed wire fence that was invisible to me. After coming to rest inverted I waited 20mins for the rescue services to come and right the aircraft so I was able to exit via the outward opening canopy. The aircraft rotated 26 times total, I was extremely dissorientated after the recovery to straight and level flight, and was unable to read the instruments. From the video I estimate I recovered at about 700ft from an entry altitude of 3500ft. If you listen carefully you will hear me say:"I think this is it". At that stage I did not think I would be able to recover. However I continued to try various control inputs based on the aircraft attitude and rotational rate, which eventually effected a recovery.
My thanks go to the emergency services that found me and allowed my escape. "

26 Turn Flat Spin in a Tipsy Nipper

Cool cucumber!

Regards

John

[TSR2]

One very very lucky chappy

[VEGAS]

Wow. A remarkable piece of footage. :o

[cstorey]

It's a great shame because films in the side bar show it to have been a very nice looking example . I do wonder if there is a single Nipper which has not been ploughed at some stage - we managed to do it with ours ( G-AWDA) twice between 1973 and 1981!!

[airboatr]

very scary. Great recovery
I think I'd like to have a little nip after that tipsy turvey,..
... :drinkers: . what?

[simondix]

very scary. Great recovery
I think I'd like to have a little nip after that tipsy turvey,..
... :drinkers: . what?

Perhaps that's why they are called nippers. You need one afterwards.

[Nigel H-J]

John, only just watched that video of yours and although having done many spins in gliders and once in a powered a/c I could really feel the 'atmosphere' of your predicament.

Many I feel may have just given up at one point and accepted their fate whereas you stuck with it like a dog to a bone, remaining calm and analytical of your situation which is one of the factors of why you are here today and able to post your "I learn't about flying from that".

Well done that man!!

Regards
Nigel.

[RAF_Quantum]

Hi Nigel,

You make it sound like I was the pilot . Nope, I just located the vid and thought it worthy of a place here.

Regards

John

[Nigel H-J]

Oh, and there I was reading your post and in the way it was written and thought it was you

Ok, not the first time that I have mis-read or even got the wrong end of the stick, now going to find me a JCB and dig a hole big enough to hide in until I feel it safe to re-emerge.....Oh.........how embarrassing. :brick: :doho:

Regards
Nigel.

[Prop Jockey]

Scary stuff indeed - I'm off for a swift one and i've only watched it once :drinkers: