"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
oups.com...
Calling the shuttle a "glider" is a bit of a stretch. It basically
comes straight down. Your Cessna in a red line power on nose dive could
never keep up with the rate of decent. There is the approach plate out
there for the space shuttle. As I recall, it turns base at about 30,000
feet. I'm sure it easily stays over 60,000 outside the Edwards
airspace.

-Robert


IIRC,

The Shuttle Landing Trainer is a clip-winged Gulfstream that is flown at or
slightly above gross weight and it glides like a brick.

Saw in interview with a former Shuttle astronaut (didn't catch his name,
sorry) on CNN today who said that, back in the day, he flew over 1,000
approaches in the SLT Gulfstream while prepping for a flight.

Jay B