"Harold" wrote:

If a small single engine plane can out-climb its engine-out glide ratio from
take off through the top of climb point, wouldn't it follow that it can
always theoretically make it back to the departure airport in the event of
engine failure ? Assuming straight out departure, no wind, and the altitude
loss in the 180 turnback is offset by the runway portion you didn't use.
I'm not clear what you mean by that.
If
my best glide is 85 KTAS and it loses 700 fpm at that speed, shouldn't I be
guaranteed I can make it back if I climb at 84 KTAS and 701 fpm ?

If by your statement above, you mean that the runway is long enough
that if you can't turn back, you can land straight ahead, then of
course your statement is trivially true. If not, how can you turn back
from 10'?
--
Alex
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