Hi Evan,

Of course you think there's a right answer because you're a proponent of
the square pattern which, if you've read my posts, I'm not at all
against. I just prefer to fly the pattern which works best _for me_ and
to date, nobody has complained about.

That said, I start monitoring the local field from about 20 miles out
and am aware of the traffic situation so I plan ahead and don't get into
the situation of being #3 but should it still happen:

1. I can reduce my speed considerably and pull up to give time to others.
2. Take a thermal and climb
3. Land on the parallel taxiway
4. Land on the cross wind runway
5. Land opposite direction (we have a long runway)
6. Land way long
7. Make a close in pattern in front of the 1-34 who's probably at twice
my distance from the runway. I'll be clear at the taxiway likely before
he turns final.

I'm sure I can think of more ways to mitigate the situation but I don't
feel constrained to drive an aircraft as though it were a train stuck on
the tracks. That's the main problem I see with "by the book" flying.
I'm not an outlaw and don't mean to come across that way, but I have to
sniff when I'm told that there's only one right way to do something.
One of my EE professors back in the early 70s (an old German) used to
sniff at what he called "cooking book engineers". I took that to heart
and try to do what I think is best for a given situation and what works
best for me. I understand that, as a CFI you're pretty much constrained
to teach by the book, but let me ask you this: Is there anything in the
FAA's Glider Flying Handbook that you know to be wrong? Do you teach it
wrong if it's so published or do you teach it right? I do what needs to
be done and yes, I could fly a square pattern in the situation you
described.

And another question: Have you ever seen someone really get into
trouble because the pilot in front of him in the pattern flew way too
far out before turning base and #2 felt that he had to fly even further
to maintain spacing? I have.

Now please tell me your correct answer. I'm genuinely interested and
I've enjoyed this discussion and hope that others less experienced might
undertake to learn to think outside the box.

Regards,
Dan

On 8/1/2016 5:59 AM, Tango Eight wrote:
On Sunday, July 31, 2016 at 10:32:02 PM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:

Fly what works for you and don't disparage techniques that are out
of your sphere of experience.
...pop quiz then.

You're #3 in the pattern behind a student in a 1-34 flying a standard glider pattern and a tow plane. Behind you is another student + CFI in an L-23. What kind of pattern are you going to fly, and why?

I think there's a right answer to this question.

best,
Evan


--
Dan, 5J