MJ
I remember finding it difficult to get the thing trimmed while downwind, then having to do it all again on base leg. "Trim for 90knots/60 etc". I now have my own bug smasher which I can trim to 60 downwind which gives me more time to think/look. Also a bit of thread drift, you mention low level sharp turns & such. Why is it that flying schools (civilian) teach this square circuit thing? I operate out of a farm strip & am teaching myself to do the continuous radius turn from downwind to final & it feels safer, no sharp "dead mans corner" stuff. Opinion??