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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Know your rotation speed
A typical trainer rotates in the mid-50s of knots - a 172 at around 55 KIAS, climbing out at a Vy in the low 70s, though check your own POH rather than memorising Cessna's numbers - and the transferable rule is that Vr sits just above the stall speed in takeoff configuration. Rotate early because "it felt ready" and the aircraft lifts off inside ground effect, where induced drag is reduced, then climbs out of it into more drag. On a marginal-performance day the result is an aircraft that lifts off and then refuses to climb, sagging back towards the runway.
Read more in Improve Your Take-OffsStart to finish · 21 stages, 19 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 1,733 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,733 m of the 3,662 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 268 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with the F-35C Lightning taxiing from the parking area to the runway at KBAB Beale Air Force Base, a process that took 5 minutes and covered a distance of 2 nautical miles. The aircraft then departed from runway 33, with a takeoff distance of 1,725 meters, which accounted for 47% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 213 knots.
As the aircraft climbed out of Beale Air Force Base, it began its enroute climb 1 mile north of the base, rising from an altitude of 1,157 feet above sea level to 6,524 feet above sea level, an increase of 5,367 feet in just 2 minutes. This climb covered a distance of 8 nautical miles. The local weather conditions at the time were characterized by a temperature of 21 degrees Celsius.
The enroute descent started 1 mile southwest of 22CL Double Tree Farm Airport Marysville, with the aircraft descending from 6,528 feet above sea level to 591 feet above sea level, a decrease of 5,937 feet in 3 minutes. This descent covered a distance of 14 nautical miles. The aircraft then entered a level cruise phase, starting 1 mile southeast of Olivehurst, which lasted for 2 minutes and covered 5 nautical miles.
The enroute climb phase resumed overhead Marysville, with the aircraft rising from 203 feet above sea level to 841 feet above sea level, an increase of 638 feet in 2 minutes. This climb covered a distance of 10 nautical miles. The aircraft then entered another level cruise phase, starting 4 miles east of KBAB Beale Air Force Base, which lasted for 2 minutes and covered 3 nautical miles.
The enroute climb phase started again 5 miles northeast of Wheatland, with the aircraft climbing from 582 feet above sea level to 1,138 feet above sea level, an increase of 556 feet in 4 minutes. This climb covered a distance of 3 nautical miles.
The final approach to runway 33 at KBAB Beale Air Force Base was made from the south, with the aircraft heading 341.0 degrees at an altitude of 1,018 feet above ground level and a distance of 4 nautical miles from the runway. The landing was made on runway 33, which had a length of 3,662 meters. The threshold height was good, and the threshold speed was slightly below the target at 150 knots.
The touchdown distance was good at 268 meters, and the touchdown speed was 138 knots, which was also good. The touchdown rate was good at -191 feet per minute. The runway touchdown alignment was very good. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 13 degrees Celsius, with a wind speed of 8 knots at 239 degrees. The crosswind was 8 knots, and the tailwind was 2 knots.
The total landing distance was 1,650 meters, which accounted for 45% of the runway. The runway rollout alignment was perfect. The aircraft then began its taxiing process, which took 23 minutes and covered a distance of 4,318 nautical miles.
The total flight distance was 4,371 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 27 minutes. The aircraft used a total of -931 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The F-35C Lightning aircraft successfully landed at KBAB Beale Air Force Base, demonstrating exceptional piloting skills and adherence to standard operating procedures. The final approach to runway 33 from the south, heading 341.0° at 4 nautical miles and 1,018 feet above ground level (agl), showcased the pilot's ability to navigate complex airspace and maintain a stable approach.
Upon landing, the aircraft touched down on the runway with a speed of 150 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 268 meters was well within the acceptable range, and the touchdown speed of 138 knots was also satisfactory. The negative rate of descent at -191 feet per minute (fpm) was good, indicating a smooth and controlled touchdown.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 13°C and a wind speed of 8 knots from 239°. Although there was a crosswind component of 8 knots, the tailwind component of 2 knots was minimal, which helped to reduce the impact of the crosswind on the landing. The total landing distance of 1,650 meters, which accounted for 45% of the runway length, was reasonable considering the aircraft's performance and the weather conditions.
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, the F-35C Lightning's landing at KBAB Beale Air Force Base was a success, with a score of 99.8% indicating an exceptional performance.
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