I watched Columbia land the first time... It came over the field at 50,000 feet, and was on the ground in just a couple minutes.
It resembled an anvil coming down from that altitude. The lifting body flights I saw prior to that were the same. Landing wasn't even optional!
The SpaceShipOne.... glided.. it took longer to get down than the White Knight did. The landing pattern wasn't hurried at all. Nice long flare at round-down..
The orbital plane Rutan comes with.. I expect THAT will be unusual.