interesting moment yesterday on final

"Mike 'Flyin'8'" wrote in message
...
So you'll gladly adjust the size of your pattern, maybe extend an upwind
or crosswind to fit somebody in the pattern because he enters it the
'right' way. But if he tries to enter on a straight in it's disrupting
the pattern?

That is a simplistic view of things. Yes it is disrupting, and yes I
would make room. Even if it is not the "right way" of doing things.
I have always (though my flying career is still quite young) entered
on the 45. If I have to go out of my way to enter on the 45, that I
what I do. Would I cut someone off on a disruptive straight in, no.
Are they in the wrong, IMHO yes they are, but I can't argue about it
if I am dead.

http://www.avweb.com/news/pelican/182100-1.html
The 45-Degree Zealots

There's not a syllable in the FARs about 45-degree traffic pattern entries.
Nor does the AIM require them. There exists, however, a small-but-vocal
cadre of pilots - and even some FAA inspectors - who consider any other type
of pattern entry (straight-in, crosswind, etc.) to be a felony. These

By John Deakin