When I'm preparing for a landing (not counting in deadstick landings), I always do a full landing pattern - yes sometimes I guess it would be quicker just to cut a part out of the circle and come in for landing - but I don't. On final I almost always cut the throttle and bring up the elevator. This will bring the plane to descend and the speed to cut down. When I see the plane at the level/height I want it (at that time the speed is to slow for making the runway) I bring back the elevator a bit and up the throttle -bringing her in at a constant speed just above throttle with the nose pointingup a bit and then I bring her down for the landing. I have found by doing it this way around - basically bring the plane to landing speed even before reaching the runwaythen constantly controllingthat speed the rest of the way down makes for an more "on-the-spot" landing.</p>

When I started flying I tried to drop speed as close to the runway as possible and always came intoo fast. Then I started to get my speed just above stall as I level the plane after the last turn into final. Yes you then have to work extra hard with your rudder to get the plane in the middle of the runway, since elevator can have a nasty effect if you overcompensate at that altitude and speed - but what works for me doesn't always work for others. But it's just what I do.</p>