Events
Events
Events
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Events
Events
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 · 17 stages, 15 scored
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
The threshold, the flare and the hold-off. The approach that led to it is the stabilisation gates below.
One stabilised approach gate for a circuit: five checks where the approach path is 500 ft above the runway. The 1,000 ft gate is an instrument-approach check and does not apply.
Side view — the last 5,000 ft of the approach.
Plan view — the first 5,000 ft of the 5,502 ft runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 1,946 ft past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with a departure roll from runway 20 at KUZA Rock Hill - York County Airport. The aircraft, a PA28 Warrior II, required a takeoff distance of 335 feet, which was 6% of the runway length. The liftoff speed was achieved at 72 knots.
As the aircraft entered the local airspace, it encountered a temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit and a wind speed of 7 knots from a direction of 220 degrees. The crosswind component was 4 knots, while the headwind component was 6 knots. The pilot successfully navigated a left-hand pattern entry from runway 20, completing the maneuver in less than 1 nautical mile in 25 seconds.
The aircraft then proceeded to the downwind leg, where it turned to a heading of 45 degrees relative to the runway. The distance covered during this turn was 2 nautical miles, with an angle of 70.8 degrees to the runway. The downwind leg itself was 2 nautical miles long and took 61 seconds to complete.
As the aircraft approached the base leg, it turned to a heading of 45 degrees relative to the runway once again. The distance covered during this turn was 2 nautical miles, with an angle of 60.5 degrees to the runway. The base leg was 1 nautical mile long and took 60 seconds to complete.
The final turn was completed in less than 1 nautical mile in 31 seconds, and the aircraft began its final approach to runway 20 from the north, heading 191.0 degrees at 1 nautical mile and 281 feet above ground level.
The landing was successful, with the aircraft touching down 486 feet beyond the touchdown zone. The touchdown speed was 52 knots, which was good, and the touchdown rate was excellent at -63 feet per minute. The runway touchdown alignment was perfect, and the runway rollout alignment was also perfect.
The total landing distance was 2,439 feet, which was 44% of the runway length. The taxiing to the parking area from the runway took 2 minutes and covered less than 1 nautical mile. The total flight distance was 8 nautical miles, and the flight used 3 pounds of fuel.
The PA28 Warrior II aircraft successfully landed at KUZA Rock Hill - York County Airport, achieving a score of 97.1%. The final approach was conducted from the north, heading 191.0° at 1 nautical mile and 281 feet above ground level (agl). The aircraft landed on runway 20, which has a length of 5,502 feet.
The landing was characterized by a good threshold height, indicating that the aircraft was properly configured for landing. However, the threshold speed was slightly above the target speed of 68 knots, which may have been due to factors such as wind or pilot technique. Despite this, the touchdown speed of 52 knots was within acceptable limits, and the touchdown rate of -63 feet per minute (fpm) was excellent, indicating a smooth and controlled descent.
The touchdown point was 486 feet beyond the touchdown zone, which is a relatively short distance. This suggests that the aircraft was well-aligned with the runway and that the pilot had good control during the final stages of the approach. The runway touchdown alignment was perfect, indicating that the aircraft was properly aligned with the runway centerline.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 55°F and a wind speed of 7 knots from 220°. The crosswind component was 4 knots, while the headwind component was 6 knots. These conditions would have required the pilot to make adjustments to the approach and landing, but they did not appear to have had a significant impact on the outcome.
The total landing distance was 2,439 feet, which is 44% of the runway length. This is a relatively short landing distance, indicating that the aircraft was well-controlled and that the pilot had good technique. The runway rollout alignment was also perfect, indicating that the aircraft was properly aligned with the runway after touchdown.
Overall, the landing was a success, with the aircraft achieving a high score and demonstrating good control and technique. The pilot's ability to adapt to the local weather conditions and make adjustments to the approach and landing was also evident, and they should be commended for their skill and professionalism.
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