Originally Posted by
DaveUnwin
"In essence, if your aircraft glides at a steeper angle than its climb angle and you try a 180 you are NOT going to make it."
This is probably the most elegant anti-turnback argument I've ever read, because it is irrefutable.
It very refutable!
- as you are usually trying to make a downwind landing. So your aim point is usually much closer than the point you rotated from.
So it is also a matter of how much energy you have as you pass the downwind end of the runway - and how much you will lose in the turn.
I am sure many people here have also done it many times for real or in practice.
Just to muddy the waters a 270 onto a cross runway can be a very useful option and use less energy depending on position.