Prop to High RPM on downwind

Mitty wrote:

I've been taught to set the prop to high RPM on final, but I don't like this
very much because then, when I run my checklist for the first time on downwind,
I have to leave one item "open."

So what's wrong with doing it on downwind? (This in a Cherokee 6 or and Arrow)
It seems to work fine, does not disarrange the engine, etc. I suppose there
is some small noise increase, but hardly much.

So (1) is everyone taught to do it on final? (2) Why? (3) What's wrong with
doing it on downwind?

You want to land with the prop forward so that it is ready in case of a go-around.
Pushing the prop lever forward on downwind won't hurt the airplane, but you will
create substantially more noise, which doesn't help GA at all in an era where more
and more people are pushing for airport restrictions and outright closures. So why
not be kind to the neighbors and delay full forward?

AOPA has a video called Flying Friendly; among the items it recommends is waiting
until final to push the prop level to highest RPM.

I understand the OP's dislike of leaving a checklist item "open", but think
of this a different way: It's good to be used to running through the full
checklist on final as well as downwind. That makes missing an important
item (ie. "gear" {8^) on a straight-in less likely.

More, it's not necessarily bad having to actually *think* about a checklist
(ie. deciding which GUMPS items to do now, and which to postpone). I
*think* (this is just an opinion) that this would make seeing green lights
when they're yellow a little less likely.

Finally, I want to add my voice to those that speak of friends and enemies
of aviation. We don't need to add to the latter, so we learn to "fly
friendly".

- Andrew