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Old 27th July 2004 | 07:38
  #29 (permalink)  
IO540
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: EuroGA.org
I fail to understand why people get so animated about this.

When a plane that can fly safely on downwind (say 10deg flaps, gear down) at 90kt and not much less, and having joined crosswind, finds himself behind a C150 doing 60kt, he can either extend downwind or, if there isn't enough downwind distance left before the C150 turns base, he has to orbit. Or depart from the circuit and come back later.

Orbiting isn't a good choice in a non-ATC airfield because they tend to be more of a free for all, but there is no problem with orbiting if ATC tells you to. They have a pretty good picture of who is out there; much better than most pilots.
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