Events
Events
Events
MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the pattern base leg
Bank angle in the pattern is conventionally kept to 20 to 30 degrees, and the base-to-final turn is where that convention earns its keep. Stall speed rises with bank because the wing must produce more lift in a turn. Roughly 7 per cent higher at 30 degrees, about 19 per cent at 45, and around 40 per cent at 60. At 65 kt on base you don't have much margin to spend steepening a turn to salvage an overshoot.
Read more in Pattern WorkStart to finish · 16 stages, 15 scored
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.
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.
The 144 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with the aircraft, a Sting S4, taxiing from the parking area to the runway at EGPE Inverness Airport. This process took less than a minute and covered a distance of less than 1 nautical mile. The departure roll took place on runway 23, and the takeoff distance was 177 meters, which is 10% of the runway's length. The aircraft lifted off at a speed of 68 knots.
The local weather conditions at the time of takeoff were characterized by a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 2 knots from a direction of 269 degrees. This resulted in a crosswind of 1 knot and a headwind of 2 knots. The aircraft then entered a left-hand pattern from runway 23, covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile in 19 seconds.
As the aircraft continued its pattern, it encountered a crosswind from runway 23, which it navigated in 18 seconds. The pattern downwind turn was completed at an angle of 45 degrees to the runway, with a distance of 1 nautical mile. The downwind leg itself covered a distance of 2 nautical miles in 61 seconds.
The base leg turn was then executed, with the aircraft turning at an angle of 45 degrees to the runway, covering a distance of 1 nautical mile. The base leg itself was completed in 40 seconds, covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile. The final turn was made in just 5 seconds, bringing the aircraft onto its final approach.
The final approach was made to runway 23 from the north-east, with the aircraft heading 229.0 degrees at an altitude of 1 nautical mile and 232 feet above ground level. The landing was completed on the runway, with the threshold height being good and the threshold speed being a little below the target at 43 knots.
The touchdown distance was good at 141 meters, and the touchdown speed was 33 knots, which was also good. The touchdown rate was perfect at -49 feet per minute, and the runway touchdown alignment was perfect. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were the same as those at takeoff, with a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 2 knots from a direction of 270 degrees.
The crosswind was 1 knot, and the headwind was 2 knots. The total landing distance was 226 meters, which is 12% of the runway's length. The runway rollout alignment was perfect, indicating a smooth and controlled landing. The total flight distance was 5 nautical miles, which was completed in 4 minutes, and the aircraft used 0 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The aircraft in question, a Sting S4, successfully landed at EGPE Inverness Airport, demonstrating exceptional piloting skills. The final approach to runway 23 was initiated from the north east, with the aircraft heading 229.0° at a distance of 1 nautical mile and an altitude of 232 feet above ground level (agl). This approach was executed with precision, showcasing the pilot's ability to navigate complex flight maneuvers.
Upon landing, the aircraft touched down on the runway with a speed of 43 knots, which was slightly below the target threshold speed. However, this minor deviation did not impact the overall performance of the landing. The touchdown distance of 141 meters was well within acceptable limits, indicating a smooth and controlled descent. The touchdown speed of 33 knots was also satisfactory, demonstrating the pilot's skill in managing the aircraft's speed during the landing phase.
One of the most impressive aspects of this landing was the touchdown rate, which was a perfect -49 feet per minute (fpm). This indicates that the aircraft touched down with minimal impact, reducing the risk of damage to the aircraft and minimizing the stress on the landing gear. Furthermore, the runway touchdown alignment was perfect, suggesting that the pilot had excellent spatial awareness and control over the aircraft's position during the landing.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 15°C and a gentle wind of 2 knots from 270°. This resulted in a minimal crosswind component of 1 knot and a headwind of 2 knots, which did not pose any significant challenges to the pilot. The total landing distance of 226 meters was only 12% of the runway length, indicating a short and controlled landing.
Finally, the runway rollout alignment was perfect, demonstrating the pilot's ability to maintain control of the aircraft during the critical phase of the landing. Overall, this landing was a testament to the pilot's exceptional skills and experience, and it serves as a benchmark for other pilots to strive for.
Scroll or drag the slider to zoom · double-click to reset · hover for values