Never thought about this ie. aka 'the impossible turn'. Is it really that difficult to do...

Edited November 2, 20241 yr by bofhlusr

Is it my eyes, or does he have the wind path/no wind path labels reversed?  Trust at your own peril.

You could probably Google "impossible turn" and get as many stories as you could ever care to read.  

Hook

45 minutes ago, LHookins said:

Is it my eyes, or does he have the wind path/no wind path labels reversed?  Trust at your own peril.

You could probably Google "impossible turn" and get as many stories as you could ever care to read.  

Hook

Yes, I did Google and viewed this video.  Thank you.

 

When I did my PPL, we are trained to NOT to turn back if you have an engine failure after take off if insufficient runway and altitude.    

This maneuver is risky because a spin will and can happen at that this climb out phase of flight.

Yup same, lose an engine look forward for a spot to land not back, the amount of altitude you loose turning back is gambling with your life. 

Edit: But in a sim, of coarse try it

Edited November 2, 20241 yr by Matthew Kane

1 hour ago, avistudent said:

When I did my PPL, we are trained to NOT to turn back if you have an engine failure after take off if insufficient runway and altitude.    

This maneuver is risky because a spin will and can happen at that this climb out phase of flight.

I too where trained not to turn back but it does depend on your altitude AGL and wind, trying a 180 below 1000ft AGL is a very risky suicide as you do loose a lot of Alt in the turn but human nature is to turn back just like pulling on the yoke when stalling instead of instantly lowering the nose  . I was trained to lower nose  keep flying straight ahead at best glide speed with a maximum turn of 30 degrees to the left or right , never ever a 90 or 180 turn

Edited November 2, 20241 yr by jason74

4 hours ago, jason74 said:

I was trained to lower nose  keep flying straight ahead at best glide speed with a maximum turn of 30 degrees to the left or right , never ever a 90 or 180 turn

Chandelle - Wikipedia Yes, never ever on a glide. 

6 hours ago, avistudent said:

When I did my PPL, we are trained to NOT to turn back if you have an engine failure after take off if insufficient runway and altitude.    

This maneuver is risky because a spin will and can happen at that this climb out phase of flight.

Same. It was drilling into me to not turn back. He always said pick a spot no more than 45 degrees from your current heading and pick a spot to land. Even if you have to put it in between two trees and rip the wings off.

Edited November 3, 20241 yr by YukonPete

7 hours ago, YukonPete said:

Same. It was drilling into me to not turn back. He always said pick a spot no more than 45 degrees from your current heading and pick a spot to land. Even if you have to put it in between two trees and rip the wings off.

Also never lower the flaps till you know you will make the clearing or touchdown zone as lowering flaps reduce you glide distance

The  X factor here is obviously what kind of airplane are you flying?

low wing loading and symmetrical airfoil = chances are you are actually going to make it <1000ft AGL.

Same scenario in a cambered airfoil/higher loaded wing such as the Skyhawk? No way. ☠️

On 11/2/2024 at 12:44 PM, bofhlusr said:

Never thought about this ie. aka 'the impossible turn'. Is it really that difficult to do...

Many people have died trying it. Can’t imagine it’s easy. If it was, everybody would be doing! Ha

I am sorry, but the original poster's picture is kind of spreading false information, especially for individuals who is a student pilot and seeking resources.  Its a gamble, period.

Regardless of high wing or low wing, turning back is dangerous, you will be surprised to enter into a spin easily in a C150 when approaching to a stall speed when the aileron is not straight and level with flaps extended.  When I did my training, in Canada, we had to do spins and tested upon, i know FAA didn't requires that back in the day, i am not sure if it changed anything recently though.

I have done some test in sims with this, at least with the sim I got, single prop GA would not likely made it if it happens lower than 500ft.

And for exotic things like PC12, I'll need 1200'

And for F16, at least 3000', or just pull the handle....