I'm not a real world pilot but I feel this is the stupidest thing I've ever seen someone do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=watch-vrec&v=3HbGZxVfXAo

I don't think this is as dumb as it may appear.  From what I can tell they are only simulating an engine failure by idling the engine and then making the turn to return for landing.  There is only one time when the engine actually stops and you can see that the co-pilot cuts the fuel only after the turn and when they are over the threshold for the runway.

 

If they had been cutting fuel on the climb-out before the turn then I'd say they were being stupid.

My concern (and as others have pointed out on the you tube comment page) is the sharp turn especially below 800 agl.

 

He shouldn't have turned and should have flown straight on.

You may be right, but from what I could tell they did a pretty good job at maintaining a safe speed and nothing struck me as downright dangerous from the video.

 

But at the end of the day I'm just an armchair pilot, so I'm always going to give the licensed pilot the benefit of the doubt.

Im ex real world. You never turn back ever as the airspeed loss due to the heavy drag in a tight turn will induce a stall and spin (usually and in theory)

 

This pilot obviously knows his aircraft very very well and pulls it off.

His instruments suggest he's upside down.. ?

There is a pprune thread on this...

 

The aircraft is a motor glider with a much greater glide ratio than any Cessna trainer out there...

 

AE

So it's okay to do this with a glider?