Recently, Larry Dighera posted:

On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 12:41:39 GMT, "Neil Gould"
wrote in
::

As I was taught, the point of flying safely is to always have a
viable option. So, I fly tight patterns and make power-off landings
as a rule. If I make it to the pattern, I can make it to a runway,
engine or no.

Truly? So when you're #5 in the pattern (which necessitates a
looooong, extended downwind leg) you just fly the pattern at 2,000'
then?

Of course not, one has to use common sense, for example, fly the pattern
slower rather than lower or hold altitude on that "looooong, extended
downwind leg" rather than descend after crossing the usual abeam point and
turn base within gliding range. If you don't guarantee that you can make
the runway, who will? ;-)

Neil