"Dave S" wrote in message
ink.net...
Bryan Martin wrote:
It's a good idea as long as you keep in mind that a turn back actually
requires way more than 180 degrees of turn to complete the "teardrop"
reversal.

Thats if you want to land on the runway. In many cases, simply being
able to return to within the perimeter of the airport is the object.
Landing on the runway you departed from is icing on the cake.

Dave

Bryan,

You must also keep in mind that the turn radius of a 45 degree bank at 50
kts is only 250 feet. If there is any cross wind and you make your turn
into the wind the effective radius is even less. A five knot cross wind
will cause an aircraft to drift 500 in about one minute. Turning into the
wind is critical to performing the maneuver successfully.

Wayne
HP-14 N990 "6F"
http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder/HP-14/N990/N990.html