I thought I knew how to spin. Well maybe not. Yesterday at the field, I saw a guy flying a 4*40. It had a TT pro 40 engine, 11X4 MAS prop, and the control throws only about 1/2 of full possible. Anyway he would go straight up at full power and when the plane lost most of its airspeed (not stalled) he would put in full up elevator, full left ailerons, full left rudder, and still had full power. When the plane started to spin he would move the aileron stick to full right. Well that little 4* would flatten out the spin and almost just helicopter in place. The downward movement was only slight. Really neet, and he never reduced power. Does this maneuver have a name other than a flat spin? I was always under the impression that a spin of anykind, had to begin from a stall. This 4 * never stalled before entry into the spin.
Thanks for any info
Ron

I am NO expert by any means. I'm thinking that he had just dialed in the sweet spot on the 4*. I think most planes have a "sweet" spot. You may have to move your CG around in order to find it. I'm pretty sure that a planes spin characteristics also lend itself to how readily one will spin, and how flat. Usually full up elevator, and full rudder gets the ball rolling. Then a little opposite aileron to flatten it out. But as I said, I'm NO expert. What are you flying anyway?

Jim C.

Thanks Jim, I fly a Twist, a U Stick 60 and a U Stick 120 lite. I tend to have all mine a little nose heavy, I think I will start moving the CGs back on them. The only one I have now that will get close to a flat spin is the 120 lite. I did some more looking and found
the Mike McCon????? whoever page at Hangar 9s site. I think what he might have been doing was sort of a blender... Maybe. I also went to the AMA page to try to find descriptions of maneuvers but could not find anything.
Thanks for the help
Ron

4 stroken ron,
Check this webpage. Lots of great tips on it. If you sign up to the page they have some videos that show how to better your flying, And explane what is going on with the sticks.
[link=http://www.flyingcirkus.com/]Click on the "RC University"[/link]

The stick movements that your friend did is pretty much exactly what it takes to do a FLAT SPIN... A rearward CG helps. Controls surface size and throw helps. You can enter it from straight and level or as your friend did. Let it stall, drop the nose, give full up elev, full left rudder and some left aileron.... Asit starts to spin and level out, move your ailerons to the center and on to oposite just enough to hold the wings level to the horizon.... Throttle will help control the SPEED that it spins.... More throttle=faster spin and vice a versa. If the CG is right and you have enough elevator AND the plane isn't too heavy for it's size, you can actually do a CLIMBING FLAT SPIN which is where you GAIN altitude.

Amazing....I didn't know that a 4* was that aerobatically inclined, hehe, Sig just doesn't seem like the type of manufacturer that would have a plane like that, I learned on a sig, and my second plane was a mid-star 40, I built each of these and am definitely pleased with sig. I have the high rates on my mid-star at about mechanical limit and the little plane runs the paces without a gripe...

3de That "RC Unversity" is a great site. I regestered right away and like it. There is a lot of good info there.
Thanks
Ron

Your welcome Ron,
I'ts a great site with tons of usefull info and videos, and lots of good people on the forums!
Im glad you like it!
Steve

All this should have you flat spinning in NO time

Jim C

You bet! I think we are going to have a nice day here Sunday.
I'm going to go spin my twist. errrr something like that.
Ron