I well remember about 30 years ago flying SLF in a Trident to Madrid.
We were held for what seemed ages south of the field. When released, for landing in the southerly direction, we were taken downwind at about 1000' to the west of the runway. I was fortunate to be in a right hand window seat.
I swear that as we passed the landing threshold going North, we commenced our final descent in a fairly steep right hand turn, with me being interested in the wing tip clearance with the ground. We only levelled out a few seconds before touch down.
My reaction was the opposite. What lovely flying, I hadn't known that BA (BEA at that time?) pilots could have such fun! Mind you, I was only a PPL.
MikeJ