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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the pattern downwind leg
The 45-degrees-behind-the-wing cue assumes you can turn your head and use peripheral vision. Downwind spacing cues like "put the wingtip halfway up the strut" assume a fixed, known eyepoint. Neither survives a monitor unmodified. If you fly on a fixed monitor, stop pretending and fly a numbers-based circuit.
Read more in Pattern WorkStart to finish · 16 stages, 15 scored
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
One stabilised approach gate for a circuit: six checks at the point nearest 500 ft above the runway after the base turn. The 1,000 ft gate is an instrument-approach check and does not apply.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 2,737 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 716 m past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight was conducted in a Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft. Taxiing from the parking area to the runway took less than a minute and covered a distance of less than one nautical mile. The departure roll took place on runway 30 at EGPK Glasgow Prestwick Airport, with a takeoff distance of 912 meters, which is 33% of the runway length. The liftoff speed was 119 knots.
The local weather conditions at the time of takeoff were characterized by a temperature of 17 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 1 knot from a direction of 269 degrees. This resulted in a negligible crosswind and headwind component. After takeoff, the aircraft entered a left-hand pattern, which involved a turn from runway 30. The distance covered during this turn was less than one nautical mile and took 126 seconds to complete.
As the aircraft continued in the left-hand pattern, it encountered a crosswind from runway 30, which was also less than one nautical mile in distance and took only 27 seconds to navigate. The pattern then involved a downwind turn, which covered a distance of four nautical miles and had an angle to the runway of 45 degrees and a descent angle of 2.6 degrees. The downwind leg itself was short, covering less than one nautical mile in just six seconds.
The final approach to runway 12 at EGPK Glasgow Prestwick Airport was made from the north-west, with a heading of 120 degrees and an altitude of 958 feet above ground level. The landing on runway 12 was successful, with a threshold height that was considered good and a threshold speed of 97 knots. The touchdown point was 282 meters beyond the touchdown zone, with a touchdown speed of 72 knots and an excellent touchdown rate of -84 feet per minute.
The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned from the centerline by 3.8 meters. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 1 knot from a direction of 270 degrees, resulting in a negligible crosswind and tailwind component. The total landing distance was 987 meters, which is 36% of the runway length. The runway rollout alignment was very good.
The total flight distance was nine nautical miles, which was covered in seven minutes. The aircraft used a total of five kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The Beechcraft King Air 350 successfully landed at EGPK Glasgow Prestwick Airport, achieving a high score of 95.8%. The aircraft approached the runway from the north-west, heading 120.0° at a distance of 3 nautical miles and an altitude of 958 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot maintained a good threshold height, which is a crucial aspect of a safe landing.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft's threshold speed was recorded at 97 knots, which is within the acceptable range. The touchdown point was located 282 meters beyond the designated touchdown zone, indicating a slight deviation from the ideal landing spot. However, the touchdown speed of 72 knots was satisfactory, and the touchdown rate of -84 feet per minute (fpm) was excellent, demonstrating a smooth and controlled descent.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were favorable, with a temperature of 15°C and a gentle wind of 1 knot from 270°. This resulted in a minimal crosswind and tailwind, making the landing process even smoother. The total landing distance of 987 meters was 36% of the runway length, which is a relatively short distance considering the aircraft's size and weight.
The runway rollout alignment was very good, indicating that the pilot maintained control of the aircraft during the post-landing phase. Overall, the landing was executed well, with the pilot demonstrating a high level of skill and expertise. The slight deviation from the ideal touchdown point and the slightly misaligned runway touchdown position were minor issues, but they did not compromise the safety of the landing.
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