Originally Posted by Head Turner
I am not convinced that a 270 auto would work. Firstly the RRPM have to be recovered, then the height loss in the turn and any inbalance would add to the rate of descent.
Turning should assist in the RRPM recovery due to disk loading etc. So provided the lever is dumped pretty quickly that should not be a major problem. As for any imbalance, surely that would only really be a problem if the student is alone and in the early stages of solo flying. Any competent instructor should be able to keep the aircraft in balance during the turn!
An alternative idea, again depending on the wind strength. Would it not be possible to perform a constant attitude auto or, better still, a zero speed auto - ie zero ground speed. In a reasonably strong wind you could even achieve a rearwards ground speed for the first part of the exercise!! This should minimise the distance travelled out to "sea".