Following your responses:
Firstly, Classic regarding your comments regarding the turnback, I stand corrected. However my turnback concern is that and inexperienced pilot (low how part time FIR) may come a cropper soon. Sure the turnback is not impossible, just potentially hazardous. The instructor at the seminar when questioned on the height loss in a Bulldog T1 clearly hadn't read his flight manual!
There is a theorectical height loss, try it at 3000 ft, but when your closing towards the ground, it's very different.
Secondly, mad-jock I found your comments interesting regarding the katana, I haven't flown the type, its pity you were not at the seminar, although you would have been told to shut, up, because the instructor concerned wasn't interested in any other views!
Deltic