Stalls

There are two primary types of stalls, the breaking stall and the mushing stall. When the wing exceeds the critical angle, airflow becomes turbulent and considerably less lift is developed. For certain balance situations, this may cause the nose of the aircraft to drop. Done gently enough though, the aircraft may just settle into a high sink rate or mush. In either case the recovery is the same.

1. Lower the nose and keep the wings level with co-ordinated use of control.
2. On regaining flying speed ease out of the dive and return to the normal gliding attitude.

Recoveries from more pronounced stalls may include easing out of the dive by holding the glider’s nose “on the horizon”, then lowering the nose to the glider attitude once the speed approaches that maintained in the normal gliding attitude. This technique will minimize height loss. At no time however should the glider be held at attitudes above the horizon. This will cause loss of the appropriate visual references and may lead to further stalls.  The outline for this exercise is:

1. Instructor demands performance by student of Pre-Takeoff Checks.
2. Student follows through on controls during all phases of flight unless otherwise directed by the instructor.
3. Instructor directs the student’s attention to the towplane until just before 300 feet.
4. Instructor checks the student’s performance of calling out 300 feet.
5. Student’s attention directed to the towplane again. If conditions are not turbulent is allowed to attempt the aerotow above 1000 feet. Instructor’s guides this closely, taking over as required, establishing good position, and then letting the student try again.
6. Instructor coaches lookout, release, and turn. Student performs with instructor following through on controls. Once in level flight instructor hands control over to the student alone and checks student use of trim.
7. Instructor checks the student’s performance in locating the airfield.
8. Instructor coaches CALL check and linked turns. Requires good lookouts before each turn.
9. Instructor coaches student into slow flight attitude, review use of the trim as necessary.
10. Instructor coaches student into gentle stall and recovery. A demonstration of this is optional.
11. Instructor checks the student’s performance of the downwind checks and student alone flies the aircraft.
12. Instructor takes control after the turn on to final leg is completed, student continues to follow through on the controls.
13. Students who exhibit good control skills may be coached through a landing at this stage.