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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 · 19 stages, 17 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 4,110 ft of the approach.
Plan view — the full 4,110 ft runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 1,043 ft touchdown sits inside 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 2 minutes and covered less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft, a DA42-VI, then departed from runway 25L at LFPN Toussus-le-Noble Airport. The takeoff distance was 813 feet, which accounted for 24% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 58 knots, and the local weather conditions were characterized by a temperature of 59°F and a wind speed of 1 knot at 270°.
As the aircraft climbed to a higher altitude, it began its enroute climb from 1,344 feet above sea level to 1,781 feet above sea level, an increase of 437 feet in less than 1 minute and covering less than 1 nautical mile. This climb phase took place overhead Chateaufort in the Ile-de-France region of France. The aircraft then transitioned to a level cruise phase, which started overhead Magny-les-Hameaux and lasted for 14 minutes, covering 16 nautical miles.
The flight continued with multiple enroute climb and level cruise phases, each taking place over different locations in France. The climb phase from 1,021 feet above sea level to 1,645 feet above sea level, an increase of 624 feet in 2 minutes and covering 3 nautical miles, occurred overhead Les Lilas. The level cruise phase that followed lasted for 16 minutes, covering 37 nautical miles, and took place overhead Bondy. Another climb phase, which increased the altitude from 1,173 feet above sea level to 3,420 feet above sea level, an increase of 2,247 feet in 4 minutes and covering 9 nautical miles, occurred overhead Tille in the Hauts-de-France region.
The final enroute level cruise phase took place overhead Fontaine-Lavaganne and lasted for 9 minutes, covering 23 nautical miles. As the aircraft began its descent, it started from an altitude of 2,703 feet above sea level and descended to 471 feet above sea level, a decrease of 2,232 feet in 5 minutes and covering 10 nautical miles. This descent phase took place overhead Hallencourt.
The final approach to runway 20 at LFOI Abbeville-Buigny Baie de Somme Airfield was made from the north, heading 202.0° at 0 nautical miles and 237 feet above ground level. The landing on the runway was successful, with a touchdown distance of 1,031 feet, which was 56% of the runway length. The touchdown speed was 61 knots, and the touchdown rate was excellent at -82 feet per minute. The runway touchdown alignment was very good, and the local weather conditions remained the same as before.
After landing, the aircraft taxied to the parking from the runway, which took 1 minute and covered less than 1 nautical mile. The total flight distance was 101 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 57 minutes. The aircraft used 73 pounds of fuel during the flight.
The DA42-VI aircraft successfully landed at LFOI Abbeville-Buigny Baie de Somme Airfield, achieving a high score of 98.7%. The final approach to runway 20 was conducted from the north, with the aircraft heading 202.0° at an altitude of 237 feet above ground level (agl) and 0 nautical miles from the runway.
The pilot demonstrated excellent control and precision during the landing, with a good threshold height and speed of 72 knots. The touchdown distance of 1,031 feet was also within acceptable limits, and the touchdown speed of 61 knots was well-managed. The most impressive aspect of the landing was the excellent touchdown rate of -82 feet per minute (fpm), which indicates a smooth and controlled descent.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 59°F and a light wind of 1 knot from 270°. This resulted in a negligible crosswind component of 1 knot, and a headwind of 0 knots. The aircraft's ability to handle these conditions was evident in its perfect runway rollout alignment, which suggests that the pilot maintained control and stability throughout the landing.
Overall, the DA42-VI aircraft's landing at LFOI Abbeville-Buigny Baie de Somme Airfield was a textbook example of a well-executed landing, with the pilot demonstrating excellent skills and control. The aircraft's performance was impressive, with a total landing distance of 2,288 feet, which is only 56% of the runway length. This indicates that the pilot was able to bring the aircraft to a stop quickly and efficiently, while still maintaining control and stability.
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