Just so no one gets the idea that an RV-12 is difficult to slow down and land.....

It is not. It is the easiest to fly airplane I have ever flown.

Flying downwind at 90 - 100 kts to fit in with faster traffic is not a problem.

If power is pulled to idle when abeam the numbers, it is not challenging to be at 50Kts rounding out into the flare after a pretty normal sized pattern (note I didn't say standard sized pattern because the standard now adays seems to be what would be appropriate for a private jet).

Absolutely true. I think we're just discussing the finer points of perfecting the pattern and landing, not big issues.

Thanks, and the above sounds like good advice.

Except the bolded above.

Pattern altitudes are published in the A/FD and can also be brought up on most EFB software. For safety and consistency, those published altitudes should really be adhered to.

I do wonder in this day and age how many people will actually get that reference! :D

In my defense, I was a little kid at day camp when the counselors taught us that song.

DaleB: Well I sure got it...LOL, too. I'll fix you a sandwich, OK? Just tell me where to bring it and keep the window open.

Pattern altitude: Lots of tower fields in my corner. They expect you to follow the published procedure. Imagine that.

Thanks all for responding. I wanted to see how the answers ranged. I did...pretty wide.

One contrarian point of view to make, albeit respectfully. I will always believe that what's behind you does matter, especially if it's chewing on your personal aluminum.

Scott,

I agree it?s not hard to fly. It?s just a lot slicker airframe than the legacy Pipers and Cessnas most of us are used to. I have to shift gears mentally when I get into the 12 and remind myself to think farther ahead and not expect small power reductions to impact speed or sink rate much unlike my Cherokee where chopping the power and dropping full flaps on short final will bring me from high and hot to landing with power in no time. The RV forces me to be a better pilot.

Rich

+1
 

add one more to that tally!

I think if I was jumping into the RV12 from either of my prior planes, a Grumman Tiger followed by a Cirrus SR22, I think my impressions would have been very different.

But after 500 hours or so in my Sky Arrow, I'm just calibrated a bit differently. No doubt I could adjust.

Just saw this and thought I should clarify my opinion.

First, I agree, yes you must follow pattern altitudes at towered airports. Published altitudes typically range from 800-1000' above runway on non-towered airports. Some probably need 1000' because of local terrain and obstructions especially for planes with a high wing loading and pattern speed. I like a power off close pattern just in case of loss of power. I don't do cross country traffic patterns. I have found that for my 12 planning to descend to 800' above runway abeam the numbers on down wind when I pull the power is a perfect setup for a stabilized approach on the numbers. At 1000' you must aggressively slip or land long. See how many ultralights or Cubs fly a 1000' pattern above a non-towered airport. The 12 is more similar to them for landing than high wing loading planes.

On what's behind you. I was too casual with that statement but I'm sorry I will never speed up and be rushed by heavy iron behind me. I will give way and circle to allow them to land before me but once I'm turning base and final it is my airport and someone blasting in for a straight in final without an earlier radio call will have to wait for me. I will expedite my landing and make the first turn off (that they probably can not do) and continually announce my position for them but I will not speed up and disrupt my approach because someone is burning more fuel than I am.