Events
Events
MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Keep the approach speed on target
Every knot above Vref is stored kinetic energy, and energy stored at the threshold must be dissipated in ground effect before the aeroplane will stop flying. Because kinetic energy scales with the square of speed, the excess you must dissipate grows fast. At a 45-knot approach, five knots hot is over a tenth more speed and roughly a quarter more energy to get rid of in ground effect. This is why the fix is never in the flare. It was decided three miles earlier, on final, at the airspeed indicator.
Read more in VRef ExplainedStart to finish · 11 stages, 11 scored
Events
Events
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.
At the 500 ft gate: no landing flap set.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 1,814 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 863 m past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with a departure roll from runway 23 at EGPE Inverness Airport, a small airfield in the Scottish Highlands. The Aeroprakt A-32 Vixxen, a lightweight aircraft, accelerated down the 720-meter runway, which is only 40% of the total runway length. The aircraft lifted off at a speed of 43 knots, a relatively low speed for takeoff.
As the aircraft departed the airport, it encountered a local weather condition of 20°C temperature and a gentle headwind of 3 knots from a direction of 224°. The wind was not strong enough to cause any significant crosswind or tailwind effects. The aircraft climbed from an altitude of 478 feet above sea level to the same altitude, an increase of 0 feet, in less than 1 minute and covered a distance of less than 1 nautical mile.
After the initial climb, the aircraft entered a level cruise phase, flying 1 mile northwest of the town of Croy in the Scottish Highlands. This phase lasted for 2 minutes and covered a distance of 3 nautical miles. The aircraft then began its final approach to runway 05 at EGPE Inverness Airport, flying from the southwest at a heading of 48.0° and at an altitude of 397 feet above ground level.
The landing was executed from a distance of 1 nautical mile from the runway threshold, with the aircraft touching down 433 meters beyond the touchdown zone. The touchdown speed was a relatively low 26 knots, and the touchdown rate was perfect at -20 feet per minute. The runway touchdown alignment was also very good, indicating a smooth and controlled landing.
The total landing distance was 1,046 meters, which is 58% of the runway length. The runway rollout alignment was perfect, indicating that the aircraft came to a stop quickly and smoothly. The total flight distance was 6 nautical miles, and the flight lasted for 5 minutes. The aircraft used a total of -2 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The Aeroprakt A-32 Vixxen, a pioneering aircraft, successfully landed at EGPE Inverness Airport, showcasing its capabilities in various aspects of flight. The final approach to runway 05 was initiated from the south-west, with a heading of 48.0° at 1 nautical mile and 397 feet above ground level (agl). This approach was executed with precision, resulting in a good threshold height, which is a critical factor in ensuring a safe landing.
However, there was a notable issue with the threshold speed, which was excessively high at 56 knots. This indicates that the pilot may have been experiencing some difficulty in controlling the aircraft's descent rate or may have been relying too heavily on the aircraft's natural glide slope. Despite this, the touchdown point was 433 meters beyond the touchdown zone, which is a relatively minor deviation.
The touchdown speed of 26 knots was satisfactory, and the touchdown rate of -20 feet per minute (fpm) was perfect, indicating a smooth and controlled descent. The runway touchdown alignment was also very good, demonstrating the pilot's skill and attention to detail. The local weather conditions, with a temperature of 20°C and a gentle wind of 3 knots at 224°, contributed to a relatively straightforward landing.
The total landing distance of 1,046 meters, which accounts for 58% of the runway length, is a reasonable figure considering the aircraft's size and weight. The runway rollout alignment was perfect, indicating that the pilot maintained control of the aircraft during the rollout phase, ensuring a safe and stable stop.
Overall, this landing demonstrates the Aeroprakt A-32 Vixxen's capabilities and the pilot's skills in executing a safe and controlled landing. While there were some minor issues with the threshold speed, the overall performance was satisfactory, and the aircraft handled the landing with ease.
Scroll or drag the slider to zoom · double-click to reset · hover for values