Why do some people fly 747 patterns

[Immelman]

These threads are always interesting in that many of the responses completely fail to take into account that airport conditions, traffic in the pattern and type of aircraft will and does affect how you may fly the pattern.

Unlike the poster quoted above, I don't have opinions so strong that I'm not willing to adjust based on conditions, aircraft, etc. He might find it interesting to arrest the descent rate in my Duchess if he pulled it to idle at midfield. If he did, I'd suggest a very quick turn towards the runway and carry some extra knots all the way into the flair, because you will need it to arrest the descent rate. I usually carry a little power until into the flair.

Dan, sorry if I came off sounding too strong. Of course you have to adjust for traffic and conditions... fact is, unless I'm at a small airport with only 1 or 2 in the pattern I have to expand out to match traffic flow; I just hate it when, in those circumstances, the other aircraft are smaller trainers and are flying the 747 pattern!

My comment about "spam cans and ragwings" was directed to mean that I was refering to the average trainer, Citabria, cub, 172, heck - 182 (with a little power), etc. I fully realize that twins and high perf singles will need some power in, not to mention the cooling issues... again my real issue here is efficiency and safety. I really wish that, traffic permitting, most people would stay within glide distance of the fields, particularly at airports in suburban environments.

That's where I'm coming from anyways.

 

[fastback]

What's an unaccelerated turn?

Good call, bad choice of words on my part. I should have said "level turn".

 

[Peanut gallery]

If you pop a motor and can not make the runway then you are too far out.

Traffic will obviously change this but, in the last 15 years the basic competency level of flight instructors has fallen to an abissmal level. I routinely turn inside of those that fly too far out at an uncontrolled field for no other reason than they do not really understand the guidance that pertains to pattern operations. ( the assumption being that they are clearly leaving the pattern, and I can sometimes catch them on the way around after a touch and go ) Someone earlier stated that the guidance has changed and they are most certainly wrong. There has been no guidance change and you turn base at the 45 degree point today just as my Father did back in the 1940's.

 

[BoilerUP]

Military aircraft often fly an "overhead break", which is overfly the runway and start a descending left 360 degree turn to landing. Rectangle patterns aren't SOP. And the Herc will do much better than 40 degrees of bank, too...

I think the 747 pattern is a product of every major pilot school. I've flown a tighter pattern in a Beechjet than I've seen many people fly in a Cessna 150. My students flew tight patterns because I detested the "monkey-see-monkey-do" attitude many students had. I told my students if somebody was consistantly keeping their pattern wide without operational reason, they should keep their pattern tight and "fix" the airplanes behind them.

I've been number 11 to land, on a 6 mile final, at Purdue, at night. I feel your huge traffic pattern pain...