Circuits - Oval or square?

[Guest Cloudsuck]

Maybe an oval circuit is the way to go with a plane where you lose sight of the runway, but there are not many like that. I fly a taildragger and I only lose sight when I flare.

Yeah well fly this one down a long straight final. This is a view I took while sitting in the rear seat (PIC Seat) a few weeks ago with no passenger in front. This Yak-54 has no flaps, long nose, you sit behind the passenger and above the wing.

 

This defines a real tailwheel aeroplane...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BigPete]

This has been a most informative thread, one that I've read with great interest. On Saturday I went for a local flight here at Echuca, very early in the morning. It was all quiet, most people still in bed. It was very hot at 1000ft around 40 deg with a very strong wind from the north. (around 35 knots). Conditions, however were very smooth and consistant.

 

After a short while I noticed the oil temp creeping up, and because of the unpleasant heat I decided to land. Joined mid downwind and noticed I had a ground speed of 135 knots (wow). I realized that my base and final legs would therefore be quite slow. As I turned onto final this was confirmed as I was pointing the nose at about 45 deg left of track (base leg) and my GPS ground speed fell to 35 knots.

 

Time to head for the runway and fly the rest as an oval circuit I said to myself (as I remembered this thread) and did just that. I love doing something new in the aeroplane. By this time I had 15 deg flap, nose up, indicated speed of 70 knots (and still 35 knots ground speed on the GPS). I could allready see I would land short and increased power. The windsock was limp and I new I would fall even shorter as I decended out of the strong wind. Increased power a bit more and adjusted my speed up by another 5 knots (now 75).

 

I did enjoy flying one smooth arc and seeing the threashold from a different viewpoint. Selected 30 deg flap on very late final and did one of my better landings. All thanks to all you guys who posted here. Loved it.

 

regards

 

:big_grin::big_grin:

 

 

[newairly]

With gliders I was taught a constant angle circuit. The idea was that wherever you were in the circuit you could reach the aiming point with half spoiler. It was, I guess, really rectangular with very rounded corners, and of course being a glider, continually descending.

 

This seems a good idea if you also are in a high drag/low inertia aircraft with a possible unreliable engine. Ie. do not ever get out of gliding range of the runway.

 

Phil

 

 

[Yenn]

Cloudsuck. That is just about the view I get in my cockpit, but on the approach the nose is down so I can see the aim point, when I flare I lose all forward vision. No problem, but a bit disconcerting on narrow grass edged strips.

 

Big Pete, it wouldn't make any difference if you did square or rounded approaches if you are too low, you will still be too low with either approach. I always aim to cut power at base call and the rest is all glide approach. This method can of course be a problem in carby ice conditions, when it may be prudent to keep a fair bit of power on and come in very slow.

 

 

[Guest Cloudsuck]

I did enjoy flying one smooth arc and seeing the threashold from a different viewpoint. Selected 30 deg flap on very late final and did one of my better landings. All thanks to all you guys who posted here. Loved it.regards

 

:big_grin::big_grin:

Good one Pete, always nice to have a few new tricks up your sleeve for a rainy day.

 

 

[Guest Cloudsuck]

Here is a classic example. Side slip on final is so the pilot can see the runway.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOvFobUWWBs&feature=related"