Dudley Henriques wrote:
Flat spins are an aft cg scenario for the P39. Generally, in an airplane
with positive stability , a flat spin has to be entered deliberately and
HELD with power and aileron; the exact amounts of each differ with each
type
spun flat. The P39, had a problem with aft cg movement along a very narrow
in range parameter with ammunition expenditure. If the airplane exceeded
critical angle of attack when the ammo cans were at a certain level, the
departure could easily cause an out of envelope spin mode that could go
flatter as autorational velocities and moments of inertia changed as the
spin progressed into ever increasing yaw rates.

So... what you're saying is, the flat spin recovery technique was to
pull the trigger and start shooting...? :-)


Jeff