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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 · 13 stages, 11 scored
Events
Events
Events
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.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,230 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,230 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 308 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with a departure roll from runway 25 at EDX1 Hoherodskopf, a small airfield in Germany. The aircraft, a Piper PA-24-250 Comanche, accelerated down the runway and lifted off at a speed of 58 kt, covering a distance of 221 m, which was 26% of the runway length. The local weather conditions at the time of takeoff were characterized by a temperature of 25 °C and a gentle wind blowing at 9 kt from a direction of 27 °, resulting in a crosswind of 6 kt and a tailwind of 6 kt.
As the aircraft climbed away from the airfield, it began its enroute climb, which started overhead EDX1 Hoherodskopf Schotten. The climb was steep, with the aircraft ascending from 2,452 ft asl to 3,580 ft asl in just 2 minutes, covering a distance of 2 nm. This impressive climb rate allowed the aircraft to reach a cruising altitude quickly, and it soon entered a level cruise phase, which lasted for 5 minutes and covered a distance of 10 nm. The cruise phase took place 1 mile north east of Schotten, and the aircraft maintained a steady altitude of 3,580 ft asl.
As the aircraft continued on its journey, it began its enroute descent, which started 1 mile south east of Hungen. The descent was steep, with the aircraft descending from 3,510 ft asl to 1,220 ft asl in just 3 minutes, covering a distance of 6 nm. This rapid descent allowed the aircraft to reach its final approach altitude quickly, and it soon began its final approach to runway 18 at EDFB Reichelsheim Airfield.
The final approach was made from the north, with the aircraft heading 177.0 ° at 1 nm and 814 ft agl. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were similar to those at takeoff, with a temperature of 25 °C and a gentle wind blowing at 9 kt from a direction of 27 °, resulting in a crosswind of 4 kt and a tailwind of 8 kt. The aircraft touched down on the runway at a speed of 55 kt, with a touchdown distance of 308 m, which was good considering the runway length of 1,230 m. The touchdown rate was also good, at -151 fpm, and the runway touchdown alignment was very good.
After touchdown, the aircraft began its rollout, which was slightly misaligned by 8.4 m from the centreline. The total landing distance was 690 m, which was 56% of the runway length. Despite the slight misalignment, the landing was considered good, and the aircraft came to a stop quickly. The total flight distance was 19 nm, and the flight lasted for 10 minutes, during which the aircraft used 6 kg of fuel.
The Piper PA-24-250 Comanche successfully landed at EDFB Reichelsheim Airfield, achieving a score of 93.1%. The aircraft approached the runway from the north, heading 177.0° at 1 nautical mile and 814 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot executed a precise final approach, taking into account the local weather conditions.
The temperature at the time of landing was 25°C, with a wind speed of 9 knots at 27°. This resulted in a crosswind of 4 knots and a tailwind of 8 knots. Despite these conditions, the pilot maintained good control of the aircraft, achieving a threshold speed of 71 knots and a touchdown speed of 55 knots. The touchdown distance was also within acceptable limits at 308 meters.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft's rate of descent was -151 feet per minute, which is considered good. The runway touchdown alignment was very good, indicating that the pilot had successfully aligned the aircraft with the runway centerline. However, the runway rollout alignment was slightly misaligned by 8.4 meters from the centerline.
The total landing distance was 690 meters, which is 56% of the runway length. This is a relatively short landing distance, indicating that the pilot had successfully controlled the aircraft's descent and touchdown. Overall, the landing was considered good, with the pilot demonstrating good control and precision in executing the approach and touchdown.
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