During my time in the RAAF we were taught how to conduct practice turn-backs following engine failure after takeoff in Vampire jet fighters. Looking back now and with the benefit of hindsight, I realise it was a potentially dangerous manoeuvre since so much depended on height and airspeed at instant of engine failure as well as wind. The engine failure was simulated by closing the throttle and much also depended on angle of bank.
At RAAF Base East Sale where this manoeuvre was taught at Central Flying School, we would practice this stuff and most of the time when it became clear an undershoot looked like happening, power had to be added to get over the fence. At Sale, there was no shortage of suitable fields surrounding the aerodrome so that most of the time it was better to force land straight ahead rather than risk stalling in a steep turn while trying to turn back.
One dual Vampire did have an engine failure and both pilots were killed when they tried to turn back and hit short of the runway. Landing straight ahead would have been a safer option but we were conditioned to turn back if there was any possibility of success. As part of the accident investigation, qualified test pilots from ARDU (Aircraft Research and Development Unit) flew a series of test flights and proved that turn backs were real edge of the envelope flying. It was during tests where engine seizure was simulated that it was found the drag from the seized engine was so significant as to change the airspeed and height parameters needed to make a successful turn back.
Last edited by Centaurus; 25th Oct 2019 at 13:57.