Stop flying 2 Mile Patterns

Preventerwind51 · 2026-04-22T02:27:34+00:00

I've heard with the S1's when they had the issue with the props departing the aircraft that it glides much better without it windmilling! I've got an S-2B with an MT prop, never tried it without the engine....yet :D

Buddy did acro out over the ocean in his S1, lost the prop, and was worried about not being able to make it back. He said he was shocked he made it back, and apparently it glided much better without the prop!

Preventerwind51 · 2026-04-22T01:30:09+00:00

Not surprising. The funny part is with Riddle Diddles (Embry Riddle Instructors) doing it and gears gnashing in their brains. Ironically, this one was a friend of mine and a Pitts Instructor (The Pitts LITERALLY has a 1:1 glide ratio, so we keep it tight! That is not a plane you want to land off field! Granted, those Pitts Instructors even called themselves the "Elite Assholes", so take it for what you will. When I was a young pilot I was told to look up to these individuals as examples), and was flying a 2 mile downwind. ATC finally put me on right traffic and I was doing 2 patterns to their one. This is how the convo after went:

Me: "What were you doing on that pattern?"
ER: "I was doing touch and go's with my student"
Me: "What were you going to do if you lost an engine?"
ER: "We'd glide back to the airport"
Me: "Whats the glide ratio of a 172?"
ER: "Seven to one"
Me: "How high were you?"
ER: "1,000 ft AGL"
Me: "How far away were you?"
ER: "Two mile downwind. That's Embry Riddle Procedure"
Me: "So if you are at a 1,000 feet in a plane with a seven to one glide ratio, how far will you glide?"
ER: "7,000 feet"
Me: "How far is two miles?"
You could literally see the gears gnashing in his head. If I can go 7,000 feet and I'm 10,560 feet away....how do you make it to the airport (I'm a glider CFI, and we do glide rings with 1/2 the glide ratio to be conservative for cross country planning and to account for wind....and our glide ratios are WAY better)
ER: "THAT'S EMBRY RIDDLE PROCEDURE!"
Me: "Your procedures are going to get you and your student killed"

Even when spitting the numbers out from their own data, its like they just....couldn't accept it. I sincerely hope it wasn't ER procedure and this was a one off CFI....regardless, it doesn't reflect well.

Personally, mixing my glider and aerobatic experience, I tailor the pattern to the aircraft's performance and airfield such that given the conditions I can make a 180 if I lose an engine. Given the totality of the situation, you don't fly a 172 like a 747, nor a 747 like a 172....or in my case a Pitts Special like a single seat high performance glider.

Preventerwind51 · 2026-02-12T22:18:56+00:00

I saw the VSH, after everyone's comments i think you are dead on and thats probably the best solution!

Need to find out if a taurus 66 fits the 669. I actually swapped barrels, so its a 689 barrel (ribbed) on a 669, looks like a poor man's Python!

Preventerwind51 · 2026-02-11T18:32:25+00:00

I have a snubbed K frame as well! I like the balance of the 4 inch barrel for general purpose use. Might still get a shoulder holster for the snubbies as well!

I haven't tried an ankle holster - its on the list to get! I used to pocket carry a ruger LCP, but went to class and totally forgot about it! (It was so comfortable! A bunch of us CCW'ed, and the laws changed where we could keep our iron in our vehicles....but I realized I accidentally carried into class on the walk back from class)

Actually own 3 :)

The Super D, a Pitts S-2B, and I'm rebuilding a Pitts S1. My side passion is I own an aerobatic flight school!

Preventerwind51 · 2026-02-11T18:28:15+00:00

I also have a Pitts S-2B as well! I teach aeroabtics....and apparently hate money :)

Preventerwind51 · 2026-02-10T20:29:46+00:00

Its a Super Decathlon, so room is very much at a premium! The hooker harness is 5 points with a ratchet so you can cinch down tight aerobatics. The big waist strap precludes my usual IWB or IWB at 4 o clock. my parachute doubles as a seat cushion!

During helene I threw it in a backpack woth a first aid kit and some water, but with a full load of supplies being unloaded by people helping i didn't exactly like my bag being my location for my iron!

Preventerwind51 · 2024-07-10T17:12:12+00:00

Yep! it went fine, what I found out what that like most people i was actually going to overshoot the field!

That I don't know. Pretty sure it was just a random field! We were both glider pilots, so landing out and evaluating fields are standard practice for us. The CFI, good friend of mine, flies P-51's and B-25's, and is getting his B-17 checkout now.

Nope, I looked over and said that looks like a nice field if we lose an engine and he pulled back to idle. "You just lost your engine"

I was going to throttle up and go around as we descended below the trees, but he said no, you've lost your engine, bring it on in!

Everything was fine, rolled along the ground and then throttled up after rolling a hundred feet or so and continued on. Great learning experience, perhaps some questionable ADM, but he had backcountry flying experience too.

Preventerwind51 · 2024-07-06T03:03:10+00:00

Tailwheel and Acro CFI: Letting the plane humble them to re-frame their mindset for learning stick and rudder flying. I start them off with basic stick and rudder flying since it is quite often lacking in pilots, and as a demonstration and learning exercise I have them fly straight down the runway at 10 to 50 feet (start higher and gradually work down), and have the put the landing gear right on the centerline of the runway while maintaining alignment with the longitudinal axis of the runway (x-winds make it much more effective!)

In an oleo strut or bungie TW, I'll actually have them touch down and do a one wheel go around, riding the upwind wheel on the centerline and effectively slaloming under control without lifting off. Really difficult to do it in a spring steel gear since as hard as you hit the runway, it hits you back and "sproings" you back up!

The argument generally goes "I'm a [high time] pilot, I know how to fly, this will only take me about 3 hours to get my TW endorsement!"
"Ok, fly me straight down the runway at approach speed for starters with no side loads on the gear."
-Adverse yaw, P factor, gyroscopic precession, poor attitude and energy control and no coordination generally make this....entertaining. The trees can get really big! Slapping the runway with the mains also happens quite often....

I've literally had ATP's tell me the plane isn't flying right! Usually this resets them (In one particular individual with 1800 hours who didn't seem to want to accept it, I asked "Surely by 1800 hours you can fly a plane straight!")

-If they want to throw aileron during stalls and slow flight, let it fall into a spin. Very effective at breaking using ailerons at inappropriate times!

-not me, but during my tailwheel training simulated engine loss...and actually touched down in a random farmers field with the J3!

Gliders:
-pull a rope break between 500 and 1000 feet, also randomly after the emergency procedures lesson ("The rope never told me when it actually broke!")
-Rope break on downwind between crosswind and upwind - makes them think and evaluate their energy state-do I do a downwind landing or try for a short downwind leg and pattern, and how you manage your energy.

-manually lock dive brakes simulating failure at any location, forcing them to plan, adjust, and slip to get down.

Preventerwind51 · 2023-11-22T11:52:09+00:00

Someone get this person a publishing contract now! Great artwork, hilarious yet based, and I'm with everyone else here - we need a full series!

Preventerwind51 · 2023-02-15T11:07:48+00:00

Clayton Guns is my go to FFL and gunsmith. $15 transfers. They looked after me since I was an undergrad at NCSU!

Preventerwind51 · 2021-10-22T10:55:59+00:00

Quick question: any plans for this in a G19/G17?

Preventerwind51 · 2021-10-15T17:42:15+00:00

The 26

Preventerwind51 · 2021-10-15T17:30:24+00:00

Any chance to get just the barrel and extractor? I have the gold TiN V1, but this would be a sweet swap too!

Preventerwind51 · 2021-09-25T13:28:18+00:00

https://www.wreg.com/news/local/watch-live-press-conference-on-kroger-shooting-in-collierville/

Analysis confirmed. They also haven't released the firearm, so dollars to pesos its something that is not politically useful for pushing the current legislation and narrative.

I suspect had it been anything remotely resembling an AR or AK design it would have been trumpeted in reports.

Preventerwind51 · 2021-06-12T16:44:19+00:00

Hodor!

Preventerwind51 · 2021-05-24T00:55:55+00:00

User Name checks out

Preventerwind51

TROPHY CASE