Turning back to the runway is a debate that will never end. It can be done, in the right airplane from the right altitude, by a pilot who is sharp, and who can make a 45 degree banked turn, COORDINATED, and fly slow flight right on the needed number. My point yesterday was that there is no way you can do it in a coupe from 200'. Climb to a safe altitude. Establish a climb, then suddenly chop the power at a pre-determined altitude. Then count at least one second for reaction time to the unexpected before you begin the turn. Then, do a turn of 180 degrees, then turn about 30 degrees more to simulate lining up with the runway. Roll wings level. Now count at least 3 seconds for a flare and landing, 5 seconds to be better. Now note the altitude loss from the starting point. Add at least 50% to the observed loss of altitude to compensate for the Oh Sh.. factor that accompanies the real thing. If you ever try to turn back with less altitude than that, you're a goner. Also, to minimize altitude loss, fly at minimum sink speed, not maximum lift over drag speed during the glide. Screw this up in any way, especially in a 3 control airplane, and you're also history. Can you really fly at very close to stall, scared out of your wits, making low altitude turns that you never tried before? Most can't, and history proves it. Jerry Eichenberger Columbus, Ohio N2906H
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