cleared4theoption
Pre-takeoff checklist
Just got done listening to a podcast where one of the topics was Power-Off 180's and performance landings. It got me thinking.
Looking at the Glide Performance chart in the 172 PIM, it basically says at the best glide speed you can expect to glide a mile for every 1000' of altitude. This is, of course, not accounting for wind.
Since the average patern altitude and position is 1000' AGL and one mile from the runway...it seems to me, based on some quick math, that as soon as you pass abeam the end of the runway on downwind, you are increasing your distance from the field(it was already one mile). And to make matters worse, you have probably already began descending...so you won't even have 1000'. Seems like once you pass abeam the runway, you WILL NOT make the field if you lose your engine. Add in a head/cross wind, and it gets even worse.
Wouldn't in make sense then, that a performance landing is the safest way to land...all the time
Looking at the Glide Performance chart in the 172 PIM, it basically says at the best glide speed you can expect to glide a mile for every 1000' of altitude. This is, of course, not accounting for wind.
Since the average patern altitude and position is 1000' AGL and one mile from the runway...it seems to me, based on some quick math, that as soon as you pass abeam the end of the runway on downwind, you are increasing your distance from the field(it was already one mile). And to make matters worse, you have probably already began descending...so you won't even have 1000'. Seems like once you pass abeam the runway, you WILL NOT make the field if you lose your engine. Add in a head/cross wind, and it gets even worse.
Wouldn't in make sense then, that a performance landing is the safest way to land...all the time