IIRC we would leave undercarriage down and airframe too when pounding the circuit. Obviously there is more drag but at the same time it means the engines will be operating at higher and more responsive power settings. Engines at flight idle could take quite a while to develop full power. I am sure BEagle will be along with the facts.
Looking at the video, that was a Mk1 and i think the brakes were at mid-drag. The B47 used to use a drag chute in the circuit to keep engine power high as well.
Last edited by Pontius Navigator; 15th Mar 2017 at 09:11.
Reason: Scorpion, thanks, must admit I was not looking at the ^rse end :)