Originally posted by Sandman333:
In a flat spin (like that pictured in the movie), there is a total loss of lift at the wings. Since the aircraft is spinning about a vertical axis through its center of mass, increasing engine thrust doesn't work because the thrust is continously vectored in a shifting direction as the aircraft spins, and thus the aircraft gains no velocity from engine thrust
in some instances of flat spin, the direction of airflow past or into the engine inlet is of such that it can casue a compressor stall or in severe cases casue the engine to flame out causing complete loss of power. In this case the pilot has a limited ammount of control capabilities and a limited ammount of time as all aircraft systems are operating off battery power.
Basically during a flat spin or departure as it is sometimes referred to, the aircraft takes on the same flight caracteristicts as a leaf falling from a tree.
A flat spin is sometimes un-recoverable becasue as the aircraft falls straight down the airflow over the flight controls, (rudder, elevators and ailerons) is not in such a manner that allows these control surfaces to impart a force to the airfame to casue a change in attitude.
There is currently a system developed and used in some military applicatons and available for civilian aviation as well. The system is basically a parachute that is deployed by a small rocket motor. The parachute is attached to the tail of the aircraft, and when deployed causes drag which slows the aft portion of the aircraft casuing it to take a nose down attitude. When the node down attitude is established the pilot will allow gravity to accelerate the aircraft with the parachute maintaining the dive formation until safe manuvering speeds are reached. At this time the pilot can restart the engine(s) if necessary and jettison the parachute, then recover from the dive and make a safe landing.
There is a documented incident involving a flat spin of a military aircraft. When the pilot realized he/she was not able to correct the aircraft and their life was in danger they ejected. When the rocket motor of the ejection seat fired and propelled the officer away from the aircraft, Newton's third law (for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction) took effect, the aircraft which still has all its systems operting with engines at low power, took a nose down attitude, accelerated, and the flight computers which were still operational corrected the aircraft, but becasue of the low power setting of the engines was unable to maintain level flight. The aircraft decended until making a rough gear up landing in a field all by itself.
