Again stunning, I can copy that! A bit power helps to stall first, and yet another method is just holding full up elevator (kick-up) and waiting till the model decides to bank on its own (to the left due to torque) and then slamming the rudder stick to the left (I'm still doing without ailerons). But the "trick" just does not mean the model is wingovered into the spin, it only means you see no stall buffeting. Lowering the nose and starting the yaw happen at the same time. Regardless of method, I get no buffeting and not even that nose dropping in the simulator at all.

The propwash seems to be essential for spinning. If it's reduced the model doesn't spin anymore - too less elevator and rudder effect. Likely, Ed knew that and right from the start provided the pusher with a better stalling wing (though even thicker, it had a sharper nose). After all he built the pusher to avoid the propwash. And of course he chose a symmetric airfoil to avoid an airfoil pitching moment which is stall-obstructive as well.

Indeed the Orion is another thing to feed into the mix, other than the T2, the Japan T2, the Flop and the Simla. It's the best-known model next to the Taurus. At least we have the MAN article/plan for the Orion with all of Ed's considerations for its design (like for the Taurus). And seems to me Ed was completely candid about all details and didn't conceal anything. There are no hidden secrets of the contest pilot. Makes him really likeable.