I think I saw my name mentioned. Yes, I am still alive, kicking and flying & writing RC. R/C Report is still there, although we are now web based, instead of being a print magazine. The good thing about being on the web is you can go and download any back issue except maybe the ones where R/C Report was a newspaper type magazine.

The last time I published flat spins was the November 2008 issue. [link=http://www.rcreport.net]RC Report Online[/link]

I've done flat spins in probably more than a hundred different airplanes and most planes can be coaxed into one, given enough control movement.

Generally speaking, you enter a normal upright spin, go to full power and slowly cross the ailerons over.

I normally enter from a full power snap roll and let the plane fall into a high speed, full power spin. Left is best due to torque. Full up, full left aileron, full left rudder & full power. The plane will snap for a couple of turns, then fall off into the spin. Then I start easing the opposite aileron in, while holding all the other controls.

If you have the wide 3D type ailerons, you have to be careful not to kick the plane out of the spin. The prop blast will let the big ailerons just roll the plane out of the spin. With normal size ailerons, say 1"-2" wide, you can probably go right over to full opposite aileron. The nose should pick up and the plane enters a flat spin mode. Notice I say "mode." A flat spin is not always exactly horizontal, depending on the plane, controls, CG... You will notice the nose come up and the spin change "looks." Once you see it, you'll know what I'm talking about.

Some planes will get flatter by easing off the up elevator and maybe using some down. Some are helped by easing off the rudder. You have to experiment to see what works with your specific plane and set-up.

As for setting up your plane, generally, a more rearward CG and more control movement helps.

Nearly all planes will come out when you release the controls. If it doesn't, leave the power at full throttle and put in opposite rudder, right in most cases, until it comes out. A few weird planes I have had, I needed to fight to get them out. Two in particular were a delta and a swept forward flying wing from inverted flat spins. I got the SFW plane out finally after holding the opposite rudder for 2 full turns. The delta pancaked in with very little damage.

I know the pink clashes with the rest of the color scheme, but I couldn't see the darn thing very well and had that color trim handy.