Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
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 · 15 stages, 14 scored
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Two stabilised approach gates, each with six checks at 1,000 ft and 500 ft above the runway.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 2,736 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 460 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The Diamond DA42 Twin Star taxied to runway 35 at KRVF Ruby Valley Field and commenced the take-off roll, covering 696 m which represented 38 % of the available runway. Liftoff was achieved at 94 kt. Ambient conditions were 15 °C with a wind of 2 kt from 268°, a cross-wind component of 2 kt and no head-wind.
Climb began approximately 1 nm north of KRVF, where the aircraft rose from 5,795 ft asl to 12,004 ft asl, an altitude gain of 6,209 ft achieved in 4 minutes while traversing 7 nm.
Level cruise was established 4 nm north-east of KWHI Jefferson River Airport and was maintained for 8 minutes, during which the aircraft covered 23 nm.
Descent was initiated 4 nm east of 4MT3 Hollowtop Vista Airpark, descending from 11,494 ft asl to 5,681 ft asl, a loss of 5,813 ft over 8 minutes and a distance of 22 nm.
The final approach to runway 12 at KBZN Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport was flown from the north-west on a heading of 135.0° at 4 nm and 1,248 ft agl.
Landing on runway 12, whose length is 2,736 m, occurred with a threshold height of 62 ft agl that was above target and a threshold speed of 84 kt, also above target. Touchdown was recorded at 458 m down the runway, at a speed of 64 kt and a descent rate of minus 65 fpm. Alignment on touchdown was perfect. Local weather reported a temperature of -34 °C, wind 2 kt from 265°, a cross-wind of 2 kt and a tail-wind component of 1 kt. The total landing distance was 696 m, representing 25 % of the runway, and rollout alignment remained perfect.
During rollout the aircraft remained aligned with the centreline of runway 12, completing the landing roll without deviation.
In total the flight covered 57 nm, taking 25 and used 15 kg of fuel.
The Diamond DA42 Twin Star entered the final approach to runway 12 at KBZN Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport from the north-west on a heading of 135.0° at 4 nm and 1,248 ft agl. At the 1,000 ft gate the approach was assessed as stabilised, with gear, flaps, sink rate, glideslope and centreline all within limits.
At threshold the aircraft was 62 ft agl, a height above the target, and the threshold speed was 84 kt, well above the target speed.
Touchdown occurred 458 m down the runway at a speed of 64 kt, both described as good, with a touchdown rate of minus 65 fpm rated excellent and runway touchdown alignment perfect.
The total landing distance was 696 m, representing 25 % of the 2,736 m runway, and the rollout alignment was perfect.
To refine the already high 98.2 % score, reduce the threshold altitude and speed to meet the prescribed targets, which will further tighten the approach envelope without affecting the excellent touchdown performance.
Scroll or drag the slider to zoom · double-click to reset · hover for values