Originally Posted by SunDog

that was my thought too. six thousand? should be able to make a full pattern, maybe twice, from that high.

at a glide ratio of 10:1 you've got 10 miles glide from 6k. even if you loose 1000' in the turn you have something like 8 miles of glide left. of course don't forget the wind when figuring it. if you have an engine failure on takeoff and do the 180, you will be landing with a tailwind.

something to consider: on a lot of airplanes L/D_max (best glide) is better with 5 to 10 degrees flaps. (about the same amount of flap as you can get will full down aileron deflection, or a little less than that) in most training that isn't taught because a little too much flap is a lot worse than a little too little flap.

I suggest that if you fly one airplane a lot get to know that airplane throughout the envelope, not just the normal profiles you use every day. go up high and see how she glides at different speeds, different weights, different flap settings. (or in the sim for the folks flying the big expensive ones)