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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 · 12 stages, 10 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 447 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 447 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 135 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 09 at ED39 Markdorf Airfield, where the aircraft took off after covering 219 meters, which is 49% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 49 knots. At the time of departure, the local weather conditions were characterized by a temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 1 knot from a direction of 269 degrees, resulting in a negligible crosswind and a slight tailwind.
As the aircraft climbed, it started its enroute climb overhead Markdorf, a town in the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. The climb took place from an altitude of 1,457 feet above sea level to 3,484 feet above sea level, an increase of 2,027 feet in just 3 minutes, covering a distance of 3 nautical miles. Following the climb, the aircraft entered a level cruise phase, which began overhead Bermatingen, another town in Baden-Wuerttemberg. This phase of the flight lasted for 16 minutes and covered a distance of 18 nautical miles.
The final approach to runway 30 at EDTU Bad Saulgau Airfield was initiated from the south-east, with the aircraft heading in a direction of 307.0 degrees at an altitude of 82 feet above ground level and a distance of 0 nautical miles from the runway. The landing took place on runway 30, which has a length of 447 meters. Although the threshold speed was too high at 67 knots, the touchdown distance was good at 133 meters, and the touchdown speed of 62 knots was slightly fast. The touchdown rate was fair at -247 feet per minute, and the runway touchdown alignment was perfect.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were similar to those at the time of departure, with a temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 1 knot from a direction of 270 degrees, resulting in a negligible crosswind and a slight headwind. Following the landing, the aircraft taxied to the parking area from the runway, covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile in less than 1 minute.
In total, the flight covered a distance of 21 nautical miles and lasted for 21 minutes, consuming 4 kilograms of fuel. The flight was characterized by a smooth and controlled climb, cruise, and descent, with a perfect runway touchdown alignment and a good touchdown distance.
The aircraft, identified as Sirius, successfully landed at EDTU Bad Saulgau Airfield, achieving a score of 96.4%. The final approach was conducted from the south east, heading 307.0° at an altitude of 82 feet above ground level (agl) and 0 nautical miles from the runway. The aircraft landed on runway 30, which has a length of 447 meters.
Upon touchdown, the threshold height was reported as good, indicating that the aircraft touched down at a suitable distance from the runway threshold. However, the threshold speed was too high at 67 knots, suggesting that the pilot may have been able to flare the aircraft more effectively to reduce the touchdown speed. The touchdown distance of 133 meters was considered good, indicating that the pilot had sufficient control over the aircraft's descent.
Despite the good touchdown distance, the touchdown speed of 62 knots was reported as fast, indicating that the pilot may have been able to reduce the speed further during the flare. The touchdown rate of -247 feet per minute (fpm) was fair, suggesting that the pilot had some control over the aircraft's descent rate, but may have been able to improve it further.
The runway touchdown alignment was perfect, indicating that the pilot had excellent control over the aircraft's direction and alignment during the final approach and touchdown. The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 28°C and a wind speed of 1 knot from 270°. The crosswind and headwind components were both 1 knot, indicating that the wind was not a significant factor in the landing.
The total landing distance of 275 meters was 61% of the runway length, indicating that the pilot had sufficient control over the aircraft's descent and rollout. The runway rollout alignment was also perfect, indicating that the pilot had excellent control over the aircraft's direction and alignment during the rollout phase. Overall, the landing was considered successful, with the aircraft achieving a high score and demonstrating good control and precision during the final approach and touchdown.
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