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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