"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:11_Mb.46583$na.36172@attbi_s04...
Descending into a leg of the pattern is generally considered to be less
than safe
due to the risk of a collision. It's a little less dangerous when the
descending
aircraft is a high-wing, but it's still frowned upon.

While what you say is true, I have tried the "overhead break" on occasion,
and found it to be a very good way to see the entire pattern before entry.
It's also a lot of fun.

In the UK, the standard entry at an uncontrolled field is an overhead
join. You arrive above circuit height and then descend on the "dead
side", i.e. the opposide side to the downwind. You then fly crosswind
to downwind. As Jay said, it's a good way of seeing any traffic that is
currently in the circuit. It's also the way to see the windsock.

What you don't do is descend into the circuit.

Paul