An interesting thread has sprung up whilst I was away on holidays.....
1 - You should not fly a SEP like a jet as it is a different machine, but it will still obey the same laws of physics, so it is good to take some time to understand these at a basic level.
2 - Unless you like to make a "sporting" approach (and some do), you will need to work out a bit of geometry and realise that flying a stabilised final involves getting the pitch and power broadly right, sinking at a REASONABLY constant rate and correcting visually as you go, in other words flying through a series of altitude gates which can be precalculated to give a sense check at every mile, half mile or whatever unit is preferred.
3 - If the average SEP glides at 70kts groundspeed for the sake of argument and sinks at around 550fpm, then it will need about 470 feet of altitude for each NM to be covered. As someone has already pointed out, a three degree glideslope provides much less; conclusion, hope the undershoot area is promising if the engine fails. In a PA28 Archer, turning a one mile final at 500 feet is MARGINAL with anything of a headwind ... I know, I have tried it a few times (and that is with the benefit of an idling prop and residual thrust.)
In conclusion, I strongly believe that every student should be taught how to use a glide approach and also to understand the basics of energy management.
I'm not going to beat up anyone on the thread - one of the most appealing things about flying is that we have a right to hold our own opinions and views.
[ 27 August 2001: Message edited by: Final 3 Greens ]