"Dan" wrote in message
ups.com...
Any "systems" or tricks to share, or is it pretty much just
look at the sectional and make a plan?

If it's a clear night, stay up high until you can see the airport and then
descend... I once had to go from 14,000 ft to the 2011 ft pattern altitude
in 8 nm due to a TFR between the ridge and the airport... Throttle back to
80 kts, add full flaps, keep adding nose down pitch to maintain an 80 kt
descent... Couldn't even see the horizon through the top of the windshield
in my Grumman... Basically hanging on the flaps in a 2000+ fpm descent... At
around 4000 ft, I started reducing the flap setting and reducing the
elevator trim... Came out right on top of the airport and ready to intersect
the downwind at midfield... Interesting experience...