I fly my pattern just like Kirk, though a little higher and faster at the
start. I begin my descending final turn when abeam the touchdown point and
roll out on final at about 200 ft and over the numbers. I do this both in
my LAK and in the tow planes.

I did it this way in the Air Force and when I flew a King Air for
FlightSafety. The only exception was in the B-727. Gotta be gentle for the
pax.

"kirk.stant" wrote in message
...
I wonder if part of the problem we have in patterns is the patterns
themselves. Probably because of a military aviation background, I really
(for both power and gliders) prefer the military continuous 180 turn from a
lower closer downwind to final to the civilian higher, downwind - turn -
base - turn - final approach.

I keep the pattern speed a bit high (say 60 - 65 knots in glass), half
spoilers abeam the touchdown aimpoint, about 500' agl, pretty close in to
the field, then at the TLAR point, roll into about 30 degrees of bank and
turn in. If wide I can steepen up, if tight open out, but the turn is one
continuous turn until rollout on final, and then I start transitioning to my
final speed and adjusting to where I want to touch down.

Lower and closer in, I find it a lot easier to judge the angles; I HATE long
finals!

So the turn is pretty much like any thermalling turn while adjusting the
center, without having to roll completely in and out twice with the usual
chance to under/over rudder the turn..

Just my 2 cents...

Kirk
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