Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Fortune) 6/7/84; site rhino.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!hou3c!hocda!houxm!ihnp4!zehntel!hplabs!hpda!fortune!foros1!rhino!marcum From: marcum@rhino.UUCP (Alan M. Marcum) Newsgroups: net.aviation Subject: Re: Never Turn Back Message-ID: <204@rhino.UUCP> Date: Mon, 17-Sep-84 13:21:04 EDT Article-I.D.: rhino.204 Posted: Mon Sep 17 13:21:04 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 25-Sep-84 03:42:21 EDT References: <130@tekred.UUCP> Organization: The Fortune Jungle Lines: 31 An exercise to help determine a "safe" altitude for YOU to turn back in YOUR plane: Climb up to altitude. Align yourself with a road, railroad, or some other reasonably straight landmark. This landmark will simulate the position of the runway. Establish the plane in a normal climb-out attitude. At some point, pull the power, and begin your turn back to "the runway" as though you'd had an engine failure. Determine how much altitude you'll lose in the 180. Also notice how much lateral distance you move from your "runway" landmark in the maneuver! If you're looking for a downwind landing, determine how much more altitude you'll lose getting lined up with the runway. If you want an upwind landing, turn the 180 into a pattern (albeit a short one, prehaps). This will give you some idea of the best you MIGHT expect. After this exercise, consider adding enough additional altitude to include delays for surprise (WHAT?!? Where's my engine?!?), stress-induced imperfect technique (gliding at Vglide+5, eg.), wind, etc. I'd be interested in the various numbers people find. Mail your results of this simulation to me; I'll summarize to the net. Please include the type airplane, your approximate total hours, and what ticket you hold. -- Alan M. Marcum Fortune Systems, Redwood City, California ...!{ihnp4, ucbvax!amd, hpda, sri-unix, harpo}!fortune!rhino!marcum