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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Know your rotation speed
A typical trainer rotates in the mid-50s of knots - a 172 at around 55 KIAS, climbing out at a Vy in the low 70s, though check your own POH rather than memorising Cessna's numbers - and the transferable rule is that Vr sits just above the stall speed in takeoff configuration. Rotate early because "it felt ready" and the aircraft lifts off inside ground effect, where induced drag is reduced, then climbs out of it into more drag. On a marginal-performance day the result is an aircraft that lifts off and then refuses to climb, sagging back towards the runway.
Read more in Improve Your Take-OffsStart to finish · 18 stages, 16 scored
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The threshold, the flare and the hold-off. The approach that led to it is the stabilisation gates below.
One stabilised approach gate: five checks where the approach path is 500 ft above the runway. The 1,000 ft gate was not assessed, because the approach did not join final that far out.
Side view — the last 5,000 ft of the approach.
Plan view — the first 5,000 ft of the 8,690 ft runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 1,695 ft past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with a taxiing period from the parking to the runway, which took 3 minutes and covered less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft, a Cessna Longitude, then departed from runway 26 at Tulsa International Airport (KTUL) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The takeoff distance was 3,221 feet, which accounted for 44% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 158 knots.
As the aircraft climbed out of KTUL, it encountered local weather conditions of 62°F temperature and a 2-knot headwind at 270°. The enroute climb started overhead KTUL and continued to an altitude of 35,008 feet above sea level, an increase of 33,278 feet in 13 minutes, covering a distance of 67 nautical miles.
The enroute level cruise began 1 mile west of Williams Field Siloam Springs (38AR) in Arkansas and lasted for 69 minutes, covering a distance of 561 nautical miles. The aircraft then started its enroute descent 7 miles west of Big Sandy Landing Canton (82NR) in North Carolina. The descent from 35,001 feet above sea level to 2,021 feet above sea level, a decrease of 32,980 feet, took 18 minutes and covered a distance of 101 nautical miles.
The final approach to runway 18L at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (KCLT) was made from the north, heading 176.0° at 4 nautical miles and 1,284 feet above ground level. The landing on runway 18L, which had a length of 8,690 feet, was successful, with a threshold height that was good and a threshold speed that was slightly above target at 118 knots.
The touchdown point was 261 feet beyond the touchdown zone, and the touchdown speed was a little fast at 106 knots. However, the touchdown rate was excellent at -70 feet per minute, and the runway touchdown alignment was very good. The local weather conditions at KCLT were 59°F temperature and a 2-knot headwind at 270°.
The total landing distance was 3,002 feet, which accounted for 35% of the runway. The runway rollout alignment was perfect, and the aircraft taxied to the parking from the runway in less than 1 minute, covering less than 1 nautical mile. The total flight distance was 735 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 107 minutes, with no fuel consumption.
The Cessna Longitude successfully landed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (KCLT) on runway 18L, achieving a high score of 98.7%. The aircraft approached the runway from the north, heading 176.0° at a distance of 4 nautical miles and an altitude of 1,284 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot maintained a good threshold height, which is a crucial aspect of a safe landing.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft's threshold speed was slightly above the target speed of 117 kt, registering at 118 kt. However, the touchdown point was 261 feet beyond the designated touchdown zone, which may indicate a slight deviation from the intended landing spot. The touchdown speed of 106 kt was a bit faster than the ideal speed, but the touchdown rate of -70 feet per minute (fpm) was excellent, indicating a smooth and controlled descent.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were favorable, with a temperature of 59°F and a wind speed of 2 kt from 270°. This resulted in a negligible crosswind component and a headwind of 0 kt. The total landing distance of 3,002 feet was 35% of the runway length, which is a relatively short distance considering the aircraft's size and weight.
The runway rollout alignment was perfect, indicating that the pilot maintained control of the aircraft during the post-landing phase. Overall, the landing was successful, and the pilot demonstrated good skills and judgment in navigating the aircraft to a safe touchdown.
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