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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the pattern base leg turn
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 · 18 stages, 17 scored
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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 714 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 714 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 171 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 21 at EGAD Newtownards Airport, where the PA28 Archer II aircraft successfully took off in 79 meters, covering 11% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 64 knots, and the local weather conditions were characterized by a temperature of 15°C and a wind speed of 5 knots at 262°, resulting in a crosswind of 4 knots and a headwind of 3 knots.
As the aircraft entered the right-hand pattern from runway 21, it demonstrated impressive agility, completing the turn in less than 1 nautical mile in 27 seconds. The subsequent right-hand pattern crosswind turn was even quicker, taking only 13 seconds to complete. The pattern downwind turn covered a distance of 1 nautical mile, with an angle to the runway of 55.5°, while the downwind leg was completed in less than 1 nautical mile in 7 seconds.
The pattern base leg turn was another challenging maneuver, requiring the aircraft to cover a distance of 1 nautical mile at an angle of 118.7° to the runway. The base leg itself was completed in 23 seconds, and the final turn was the longest, taking 86 seconds to complete. The aircraft then began its final approach to runway 03 from the southwest, maintaining a heading of 31.0° at an altitude of 25.2 meters above ground level.
However, the pilot decided to execute a go-around at an altitude of 1.5 meters above ground level, likely due to a change in weather conditions or a loss of situational awareness. The aircraft then re-established its approach and landed successfully on runway 03, which had a length of 714 meters. The touchdown speed was slightly below the target at 59 knots, but the touchdown distance was good at 146 meters, and the touchdown speed was 52 knots, which was considered acceptable.
The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 3.4 meters from the centerline, but the runway rollout alignment was very good. The total landing distance was 456 meters, covering 64% of the runway. The flight used a total of 3 nautical miles of distance, taking 6 minutes to complete, and consumed -2 kilograms of fuel. Overall, the flight demonstrated the PA28 Archer II's agility and maneuverability, as well as its ability to handle challenging weather conditions.
The PA28 Archer II aircraft successfully landed on runway 03 at EGAD Newtownards Airport, demonstrating a high level of proficiency in its pilot. The final approach was initiated from the south west, heading 31.0° at an altitude of 25.2 meters above ground level (agl) and 0 nautical miles from the runway. This approach was likely a standard procedure, taking into account the aircraft's speed and altitude to ensure a smooth and controlled descent.
Upon landing, the aircraft touched down at a speed of 52 knots, which is well within the acceptable range for a PA28 Archer II. The touchdown distance of 146 meters was also satisfactory, indicating that the pilot had maintained control of the aircraft throughout the landing process. The touchdown rate of -0.6 meters per second was smooth, further emphasizing the pilot's skill and experience.
However, there were a few minor deviations from the ideal landing procedure. The threshold speed was slightly below the target at 66 knots, and the runway touchdown position was misaligned by 3.4 meters from the centerline. These minor discrepancies do not detract from the overall success of the landing, but rather highlight areas for improvement in the pilot's technique.
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 at 269°. This minimal wind made the landing process even smoother, as the aircraft was not subjected to any significant crosswind or tailwind forces. The total landing distance of 456 meters, which accounts for 64% of the runway length, was also within acceptable limits.
In conclusion, the PA28 Archer II aircraft landed safely and efficiently on runway 03 at EGAD Newtownards Airport, demonstrating the pilot's expertise and control over the aircraft. While there were a few minor deviations from the ideal landing procedure, the overall performance was impressive, and the pilot's skills were well demonstrated.
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