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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Shorten the long landing
Ground effect becomes significant below about one wingspan of height. A Cessna 172, with a 36 ft span, enters ground effect at flare height - the float it feels in the hold-off is ground effect arriving on cue. An A320, with a span around 117 ft, has been in ground effect since before the threshold and there is no sudden cushion to feel, only a gradual reduction in induced drag that lengthens any float you allow.
Read more in Flare TimingStart to finish · 13 stages, 11 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.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 551 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 551 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 134 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
This flight was conducted in a Cessna C172 aircraft, departing from KEWB New Bedford Regional Airport. The taxiing process from the parking area to the runway took approximately 7 minutes and covered a distance of 1 nautical mile. The departure roll began on runway 05, and the takeoff distance was 523 meters, which accounted for 34% of the runway length. The aircraft lifted off at a speed of 67 knots.
The local weather conditions at the time of departure were characterized by a temperature of 23°C and a wind speed of 8 knots from a direction of 29°. This resulted in a headwind of 8 knots and a negligible crosswind of 1 knot. The aircraft began its enroute climb approximately 1 mile northwest of Acushnet Center, Massachusetts, and ascended from an altitude of 1,112 feet above sea level to 1,640 feet, an increase of 527 feet, in just 1 minute while covering a distance of 1 nautical mile.
Following the initial climb, the aircraft entered a level cruise phase, which lasted for 11 minutes and covered a distance of 65 nautical miles. This phase began 2 miles northwest of Acushnet Center. The final approach to runway 10 at 2B2 Plum Island Airport was conducted from the west, with the aircraft flying at a heading of 86.0° and an altitude of 339 feet above ground level, approximately 1 nautical mile from the runway.
The landing on runway 10 was successful, with the aircraft touching down at a speed of 42 knots and a distance of 131 meters. The touchdown rate was firm at -368 feet per minute, and the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned from the centerline by 5.7 meters. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 22°C and a wind speed of 7 knots from a direction of 26°, resulting in a headwind of 3 knots and a crosswind of 6 knots.
The total landing distance was 371 meters, which accounted for 67% of the runway length. The runway rollout alignment was very good, indicating a smooth and controlled descent. The total flight distance was 70 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 23 minutes. The aircraft used approximately 8 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The Cessna C172 aircraft successfully landed at 2B2 Plum Island Airport, achieving an overall score of 86.9%. The final approach was conducted from the west, heading 86.0° at 1 nautical mile and 339 feet above ground level (agl). The aircraft maintained a good threshold height, which is a crucial aspect of a safe landing.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft's threshold speed was slightly below the target speed of 50 knots, but this did not significantly impact the overall performance. The touchdown distance of 131 meters was considered good, and the touchdown speed of 42 knots was also within acceptable limits. However, the touchdown rate was firm at -368 feet per minute (fpm), which may indicate a slightly hard landing.
The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 5.7 meters from the centerline, which could be a minor concern for future landings. Nevertheless, the local weather conditions were favorable, with a temperature of 22°C and a relatively light wind of 7 knots at 26°. The crosswind component was 6 knots, while the headwind component was 3 knots, which did not significantly affect the landing.
The total landing distance of 371 meters was 67% of the runway length, indicating a relatively short landing roll. The runway rollout alignment was very good, which is a testament to the pilot's skill and control during the landing phase. Overall, the landing was considered successful, with the aircraft touching down safely and rolling out in a controlled manner.
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