In aviation, one of the things most pilots are the most afraid of are getting themselves into an unusual attitude when in IFR conditions. In this video we talk about a possible way to easily recover and save your life.
Glenn, absolutely fantastic video, I move to make you an honorary flight instructor. I'm a CFI and air traffic controller who is developing training materials for my fellow controllers, and I'd like to add my two cents from a different view. First, I think you're absolutely right about the problems that happen when pilots get disoriented in IMC. Personally, I think that the general sequence (there can be exceptions) begins when a pilot enters a bank without realizing it. Bank leads to nose down, and so unknown bank leads to unknown nose down, which in turn leads to altitude loss and speed increase. The pitch trim is already adding a slight pull on the aircraft, and the pilot's natural inclination when they have their "oh s&*@T" moment is to yank back on the yoke/stick, and rip the wings and/or tail right off the plane. Second, that's why I'm developing stuff to teach air traffic controllers a couple of things about graveyard spirals and how they would look to us on a radar screen. Short version for now is that I absolutely would NOT want controllers to say anything like "pull up" or to assign a particular heading, course, or altitude. The one and ONLY thing I would want controllers to say when observing a suspected graveyard spiral is "level the wings". To a controller, they might focus on the altitude loss, but I just want the pilot to roll wings level, understanding that if they go wings level the pitch trim will do the bulk of the work from there in recovering the aircraft. I would love to have controllers see this video because it PERFECTLY reinforces this concept from some completely independently. Thanks for making it.
Glenn. Hello and good evening. Thank you for another video. I love the Electra Jr. My favorite from that era. I do miss the Beech 18. She was a sweetheart.
Strictly flying by trim and rudder is quite cozy in IMC with only minor adjustments from A to B. Works for me at turning my airplane into a friend that likes to fly as much as I do. Great update and the first I have seen on this overlooked topic.! Thank you.
Superb guys, been a while since I've had such a lightbulb moment watching a video. It's the scenario all us VFR guys dread, getting lost in the clouds. This totally makes sense. This short video could save a lot off lives.
Hey Glenn, I was wondering if you could PM me. I have a Beech 18 that is flyable in another state needing to get home. Needing assistance with some of the logistics that I’m sure you’ve dealt with many times. I believe you may know this Beech well:)
