Events
Events
Events
MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the takeoff
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 · 12 stages, 10 scored
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.
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 575 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 airport located in the Highland region of Scotland. The aircraft, a SUPER DECATHLON, accelerated down the runway and lifted off the ground at a speed of 73 kt, covering a distance of 91 meters, which accounted for just 5% of the runway's total length. The local weather conditions at the time of takeoff were characterized by a temperature of 15 °C and a gentle wind blowing at 2 kt from a direction of 270 °, resulting in a negligible crosswind and a moderate headwind.
As the aircraft climbed away from the airport, it began its enroute climb, ascending from an initial altitude of 632 ft above sea level to a height of 916 ft, a gain of 284 ft over a distance of 2 nm in just 1 minute. This rapid ascent was followed by a brief period of level cruise, which lasted for 3 minutes and covered a distance of 2 nm, as the aircraft flew 1 mile west of the village of Ardersier.
The final approach to runway 23 at EGPE Inverness Airport was initiated from a northeasterly heading, with the aircraft descending from an altitude of 77 ft above ground level to prepare for landing. However, the threshold height at 65 ft agl was found to be above the target, and the threshold speed was excessively high at 93 kt, indicating that the aircraft was not properly configured for landing.
Despite these issues, the touchdown was smooth, with the aircraft touching down at a speed of 59 kt and a rate of -142 fpm. The runway touchdown alignment was perfect, and the aircraft came to rest at a distance of 172 meters beyond the touchdown zone, covering a total landing distance of 974 meters, which accounted for 54% of the runway's length. The runway rollout alignment was also very good, indicating that the pilot had maintained control of the aircraft throughout the landing process.
In total, the flight covered a distance of 4 nm and lasted for 5 minutes, consuming a relatively small amount of fuel, just 1 kg. The flight was characterized by a combination of smooth and controlled flight phases, as well as some minor issues with the landing configuration.
The SUPER DECATHLON aircraft successfully landed at EGPE Inverness Airport, achieving a score of 86.2%. The final approach to runway 23 was initiated from the north east, with a heading of 222.0° at an altitude of 77 feet above ground level (agl) and 0 nautical miles from the runway.
Upon landing, the aircraft touched down 172 meters beyond the touchdown zone, which is a relatively safe distance considering the runway length of 1,814 meters. The touchdown speed of 59 knots was within the acceptable range, indicating a smooth and controlled descent. The touchdown rate of -142 feet per minute (fpm) was also smooth, suggesting that the pilot maintained a stable and even approach.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were favorable, with a temperature of 15°C and a gentle wind of 2 knots at 270°. The crosswind component was minimal at 1 knot, while the headwind component was 2 knots, which helped to stabilize the aircraft during the approach.
One area for improvement noted in the landing was the threshold height, which was above the target height. Additionally, the threshold speed was excessively high at 93 knots, indicating that the pilot may have been able to maintain a more stable approach speed. However, these minor issues did not significantly impact the overall quality of the landing.
The runway rollout alignment was very good, indicating that the pilot maintained control of the aircraft during the rollout phase. The total landing distance of 974 meters was 54% of the runway length, which is a reasonable distance considering the aircraft's size and weight. Overall, the landing was successful, and the pilot demonstrated good control and judgment during the approach and landing phases.
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