Originally Posted by ecovictim
You're disturbing a stabilised approach...
WHY oh why are you even discussing a "stabilised" approach??? It's an
inappropriate notion when discussing the
average GA airframe -up to & including most twins!!! You have neither the mass nor the inertia inherent in that mass to properly conduct a "stabilised" approach!!! Sure, there are elements of the stabilised approach paradigm that are utterly appropriate to GA airframes and pilot action, but the practice of attempting to "stabilise" the average GA approach is a complete nonsense!!!
Energy management is what GA drivers need to be concentrating on, along with appropriate circuit tracks and size. How many "pilots" do you see out there flying 747 circuits, dragging their airframe to the threshold with almost full power whilst sitting right on the back of the L/D curve in what is their interpretation of a "stabilised" approach?
Further, why not have full-flap in a C172 at 500'??? I used to have exactly that configuration most approaches in all sorts of conditions in some locations -in older 172's that had the 40 degree flaps too, not the more recently built 30 degree models. When you needed to get down, that was the way to do it. Admittedly, it's not always necessary, but when you need to use it, you need to know how -and don't try to overshoot from that configuration either. You'll wind-up as a smoking hole in the ground. Something like that will teach you about energy management in no time.