Flyin'Dutch', could you please explain how the 45-degree join eliminates the problem of circuit traffic popping up under joining traffic? The traffic joins in the same place, at the same height, as for an overhead join - just from a different direction. Each joining method has its own advantages and disadvantages, but I can't see how this particular point is affected by the type of join in use.
You also asked "Does this indicate that anyone who flies a wide circuit per definition does not sub to any of these forums or are we all 'guilty' of flying a wider circuit than we think." Yes, I'm sure you're right. Well, everyone except me, of course, because I'm perfect
Actually, although I know what I nice tight circuit looks like, and I used to fly them regularly in the two months I was flying in the US, it's so rare that I get to practice them in the UK that when the opportunity does present itself now I probably tend to fly a bigger circuit than ideal, just because I'm not used to being so tight.
EastMids, does the airfield you fly from use an overhead join? Here's the reason I ask: you say that you are at 1000' well before the upwind end of the runway. And traffic joining overhead would be aiming to cross the upwind end of the runway at 1000'.... I'll let you figure it out from there!
Personally, if I'm at an airfield where overhead joins are used, and the runway is long enough, or my aircraft is powerful enough, to be close to circuit height before the end of the runway, I'll level off at 500', and then carry on climbing once I'm past the end of the runway, to avoid conflicting with joining traffic. Of course, it's not a problem if overhead joins aren't used at that airfield.
FFF
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