flat spin
Horizontal axis tumble
A flat spin is an aeronautical maneuver—or more often an uncontrolled crisis—in which an aircraft rotates horizontally around its vertical axis while descending, with the wings nearly level rather than banked.
Pilots generally try to avoid flat spins because recovery is difficult or impossible in many aircraft.
The phrase extends figuratively to describe a state of panic or confusion: The unexpected news sent him into a flat spin.
Steep spiral descent
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- airspeedAircraft's atmospheric velocity
- rudderPivoting stern blade
aileron · throttle · cockpit · pilot · gyroscope · aerobatics · nose-dive · yaw
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- confusionMental disorientation or bewilderment
- disorientationLoss of spatial awareness
- frenzyViolent mental agitation
- agitationDisturbed, restless state
turmoil · overwhelm · meltdown · fluster · distress · anxiety · bewilderment · discombobulation
tailspin
Steep spiral descent
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- airspeedAircraft's atmospheric velocity
rudder · aileron · throttle · cockpit · pilot · gyroscope · aerobatics · nose-dive · yaw · roll
panic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- confusionMental disorientation or bewilderment
- disorientationLoss of spatial awareness
- frenzyViolent mental agitation
agitation · turmoil · overwhelm · meltdown · fluster · distress · anxiety · bewilderment · discombobulation · tizzy
- aviationaircraft, airports, flying, flight, airplane
- spintopspin, backspin, sidespin, clockwise, counterclockwise
- aerobaticsbarrel roll, loop the loop, loop-the-loop, loops, snap roll
- aviation hazardsbird strike, engine failure, icing, midair collision, pilot error
- baton twirlingfigure eight, toss, tosses, catch, solo routine
- action sports tricks360, 720, 1080, 180, backflip
flat spinlevel flight
Flight at constant altitude
controlled flight · cruise · right side up · glide · steady state
flat spincomposure
Emotional self-control
calm · equanimity · collected · centered · level-headed
flat, spin, flats, flatly, flatten, flattened, flattening, flatness, flatter