In practice, it has worked out to be not more than 210 degrees followed by a 30 degree reversal. The stronger the cross wind, the less turning beyond 180 degrees. So it's about 240 degrees or less and takes just over 400 feet of vertical in my LNC2 at 100-105 KIAS. Bank angle counts. The tighter the turn, the less turn, but it gets pretty hairy as you get tighter. One of the participants in this thread said 45 degrees of bank was optimum. I think that may be shy by about 15 degrees, but don't know for sure. Also a factor, almost every airport I fly out of has taxiways or grass parallel to the runway giving some pretty nice alternatives to the runway you departed from.
 
The biggest negative at the airport I fly out of would be getting back to the runway after making the turn. With my 3200 runway, it would be iffy. I have a 160 hp with fixed pitch prop. It climbs okay but doesn't reach 500 AGL until it's beyond the end of the runway, maybe a little too far.

---

> To: lml@lancaironline.net
> Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 00:53:44 -0400
> From: malannx@bigpond.com
> Subject: [LML] Re: Turn back to the Airport after engine failure
>
> Not being a Lancair pilot, but no one seems to have mentioned a return to
> the runway can require almost a 360 degrees of turning depending on how far
> you are out, ie. almost 270 one way then a 90 the other to line up with the
> runway. Try nosing over below your required glide speed and see how much
> height and time is required to regain it.
> If low: "Land ahead to the hospital, turn back to the grave yard"
>
> Malcolm
>
>
> --
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