Macho Grande, I remember it well.
There I was at 20,000 feet, in an inverted spin, flamed out, no way of ejecting, and thank God, my instructor pilot recovered at 8,000 feet. Captain Arthur Sprott saved the day.
He was demonstrating the inverted (upside down) spin to me, a syllabus option, time permitting. We got both engines, (T-37B) started and flew home to base!
End of story, Macho Grande, eh?
Major Sprott was lost in Vietnam, flying an A-1 Skyraider in a close air support mission.
RIP Major Arthur Sprott. From his student who, eventually logged 20,900 hours. J-3 Cub, T-37B, T-33A, B-52, F84F, B-727, B-737, B-747-400, B-757, B-767, B-777, Dc-8, DC-10, Piper Aztec. (not quite in order, but close.)
Happy New Year to all of my Freeper Friends and God Bless all who fly!
Bat Guano
You didn’t include the T-38 in your list so you may be older than I. On the other hand, your civilian airplanes indicate you may not be older, since 65 is retirement age and we haven’t had the 777 that long, So there is a bit of confusion on my part. I was also, due to various issues, late to UPT and squeaked in just under the age limit. Born in ‘40 if you care to solve the mystery.
I do not believe flat spins were a part of the syllabus even as an option when I entered UPT in Dec of 1966. Or, it could be I just don’t remember, as I am sure in my case it wasn’t even demonstrated. I am quite sure I would have remembered the experience. I’ll bet the dual flameout was not a part of the demonstration as the TO explained the manoeuvre.
Lastly it is truly a terrible thing that pilots are being mandated to do to themselves in the name of mythical public safety. I concur with the Rest in Peace for your former instructor.