Exactly, except for those airplanes that cannot maintain level flight at
pattern speed with gear and flaps out at final descent power settings.

I fly downwind at 90 KIAS, 15" MP nice and level. Its a bit faster than Jim,
but a nice easy number to remember and consistent with everything else in
the pattern for the most part.


Which is, by the way, all airplanes with a constant speed prop. The power
setting for final descent is necessarily lower than that required for
level flight within the pattern, even if you slowed ALL the way to your
final approach speed. RPM will thus be higher, assuming the pitch is set
to full fine pitch (high RPM). Higher RPM means more noise.

Jim talked about speed not power. The point is that the power is already
reduced to the point where the Prop control does nothing (the prop is at its
stops) so pushing the prop control to fine pitch does nothing - the prop is
already at its finest pitch because the governor set it there trying to
maintain whatever RPM setting (say 2200) you had set for cruise - as you
reduce power it tried to keep the RPM up, until it couldn't make the pitch
any finer after which the RPM started to decline along with engine power.


If Jim's 182 flies along level in the pattern at the same airspeed and
prop RPM that he uses for final descent, I have no idea how he
accomplishes a final descent at all. A plane like that would be stuck up
in the pattern indefinitely.

No, he like everyone else reduces the power - sets the pitch to get the
airspeed he wants and the plane comes down - flaps help even more. The RPM
reduces along with the power (irrespective) of the position of the prop
control.

-Brenor