RE: trying to land a pylon plane
Try to come in shallow ... as you are flying the downwind leg, keep her low and DO NOT dive. Even with throttle off, she will pick up speed if you dive her. I like to keep the throttle on like a 'low idle' as it will create some drag. Turn slowly for the base leg and for the approach, gradualy losing heigh without diving. Then for the approach you can bring her in as low as you can and if she is still fast, raise the nose a bit, kinda like a porpoising effect to bleed speed. Might your field be kinda small?