On Sunday, July 12, 2015 at 8:08:41 AM UTC-7, wrote:
A 180 turn can definitely be performed within 600 feet, but then it has to be done quickly, with a good bank angle, and there is little room for adjustments in elevation. A safe 180 turn type of approach (naval aviator) requires (I think) bank angles that are less than 45 to have the room and time to adjust the rate of descent. In some way it is like having a curved base leg. But you may not do it safely if you are too close.
Please Dan correct me on this, I am not used to do the naval pattern.


Look at the landing pattern in some IGC files on OLC. I don't think you will find many that use a 45 degree angle.

Just for curiosity, I looked at the recent landings at Hobbs of one of the competitors. When he passed the touchdown spot on downwind on July 1, he was roughly 450' above it and 1900' away. This is a ratio of 1:4, not 1:1. The next day his numbers were roughly 700' and 2200', for a ratio of 1:3.

I doubt if anyone can find many IGC files with numbers of 600' and 600'.