Author Topic: F4U-1 spins (Read 824 times)

davidpt40 · « **on:** January 23, 2003, 10:30:12 PM »

The other night I got into a spin in the F4U-1 from which I could not recover. I was in a slow speed high-g turn when the Corsair stalled. I pushed my stick all the way forward to get the nose down, and gave opposite rudder input (to the direction of the spin). I realized combat trim was on so I gave full negative elevator trim. Still could not gain enough airspeed to recover. Any advice?

Ghosth · « **Reply #1 on:** January 23, 2003, 10:34:43 PM »

Flaps may have helped if you had time to deploy them.

While not advisable for every stall in some cases can make a big differnce.

Key is to keep nose down till you gain airspeed, then slowly pull out.

ALF · « **Reply #2 on:** January 23, 2003, 11:12:05 PM »

The corsair has a few nasty spins...especially the F4u-1

Apply alieron WITH the spin....full...all the way

Apply some nose down pressure on the stick...sometimes just a little...other times a whole fist full

Use OPPOSIT rudder in careful....controled doses. Too much rudder causes a reversal, leaving you in an opposit direction spin...with less altitude.

Remember to center your controls carefully...slowly...gingerly ....be gentle or you risk re-spin.

For some stalls (especially but not exclusively accelerated stalls), a dose of flaps and even gear on the F4U can be helpfull

WldThing · « **Reply #3 on:** January 23, 2003, 11:16:34 PM »

In some cases flap use gets you in a stall in the 1st place. I have used full flaps in the 51 many times and slow down to a very slow speed and stall in it, and recovery is impossible.

So getting flaps out maybe a bad idea, but i havent tried it any other planes, so GL!

Glasses · « **Reply #4 on:** January 24, 2003, 12:08:43 AM »

I don't think using Flaps in spin recovery would be very good since you want to lower the AoA asap and the flaps would only increase the AOA by changing the chord of the wing.

Bluedog · « **Reply #5 on:** January 24, 2003, 04:40:43 AM »

Like some guys here have said, it really DOESNT make sense to lower flaps in a stall /spinn situation, but for some strange reason, particularly in the F4U- that seems to be exactly what you should do.
No idea as to the why's or wherefors, but flaps help a fair bit in F4U- stall recovery.

~~Blue~~

fffreeze220 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 24, 2003, 04:55:39 AM »

To low + Spin = Dead
Flaps or no flaps doesnt matter.
U can recover any plane from a spin u just need the altitude

davidpt40 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 24, 2003, 06:58:24 AM »

There is a certain spin that the F4U-1 can get in that is impossible (for me) to get out of. I have even gotten into that spin at 10k and couldn't recover.

DoctorYO · « **Reply #8 on:** January 24, 2003, 07:45:02 AM »

Remember to chop throttle....

less throttle = less torque

you got the other part right with opposite rudder and stick forward..

2 cents

DoctorYo

maxtor · « **Reply #9 on:** January 24, 2003, 08:07:48 AM »

For those wierd spins try everythign. Cut engine, cycle gear hell I evn yell loud, I never know what worked but I am just glad to not go splat.

Ghosth · « **Reply #10 on:** January 24, 2003, 08:17:54 AM »

Remember,, flaps allow the wing to fly at slower airspeeds. thus in some situations
(like a terminal spin) flaps helps the wing fly a bit better with the airspeed it has.

I know I've stalled a pony twice in the last year at 30k. (TOD's both times)

First time I spun to the deck & died.
2nd time I kicked in flaps about 12k and pulled out around 8k.

Made just enough difference that I could slowly get control back.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #11 on:** January 24, 2003, 08:19:35 AM »

David, were you by chance in an inverted flat spin? If so, that requires altitude and shear luck to recover from. Watch the rudder in the F4U-1 at low speed, its very easy to get her sideways.

Samiam · « **Reply #12 on:** January 24, 2003, 02:45:50 PM »

In my experience, the worst spins in F4U-1 come when flaps are deployed a notch or two and you manage to stall a wing.

Also in my experience recovery becomes moot. Assuming you have the altitude, recovery is not quick and you are floating down while the opponent you were chasing or running from (or one of their buddies) has plenty of opportunity to line you up and take you out.

Puck · « **Reply #13 on:** January 24, 2003, 02:56:50 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ripsnort
David, were you by chance in an inverted flat spin? If so, that requires altitude and shear luck to recover from. Watch the rudder in the F4U-1 at low speed, its very easy to get her sideways.

Funny you should mention that. One of the guys my dad plays golf with was a flight instructor in WWII teaching fighter pilots how to drive their crates. From what he said (on the 7th tee) after Midway the powers that be decided inverted spins were costing them too many pilots, so they made all the instructors teach inverted spin recovery. This guys said after he went through the training (and could recover) he could put fellow instuctors in an inverted spin and they wouldn't even KNOW they were inverted. Said it was the most disorienting thing you can do until you get accostomed to it. I'd have given him his money back if he could have taught me to recognise and recover from such a thing.

10Bears · « **Reply #14 on:** January 24, 2003, 04:06:51 PM »

David didn't release the stick.. he keep pushing it forward to try and get the nose down, all that did was accelrate the stall.

1) let go of the stick

2) throttle back all the way

3) slowly engage rudder other way from spin.

4) lightly tap the stick forward.

Sometime by releasing the stick.. (it's hard to do) the plane will correct itself.