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, 14 scored
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 906 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 906 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 181 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 22 at EGHN Isle of Wight / Sandown Airport. The DA40-XLS aircraft accelerated down the runway, covering a distance of 117 meters, which accounted for 13% of the runway's length. The liftoff speed was achieved at 68 knots, marking the start of the flight.
As the aircraft took to the skies, it encountered local weather conditions with a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 3 knots from a direction of 239 degrees. The crosswind component was minimal at 1 knot, while the headwind component was 2 knots. The pilot then entered a left-hand pattern, navigating the aircraft around the airport in a controlled and efficient manner.
The left-hand pattern entry was completed in under 1 nautical mile in just 17 seconds, showcasing the pilot's skill and precision. The subsequent left-hand pattern crosswind leg was also executed smoothly, covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile in 22 seconds. The pilot then proceeded to the downwind turn, which involved a 45-degree angle to the runway and a distance of 1 nautical mile.
The downwind leg itself was 2 nautical miles long and took 65 seconds to complete. The pilot then initiated the base leg turn, which involved a 45-degree angle to the runway and a distance of 1 nautical mile. The base leg was completed in under 1 nautical mile in just 29 seconds. The final turn was executed in under 1 nautical mile in 9 seconds, setting the aircraft up for a smooth final approach.
The final approach was made to runway 22 from the north-east, with the aircraft flying at a heading of 225 degrees and an altitude of 303 feet above ground level. The pilot maintained a steady speed and alignment, ensuring a good threshold height and threshold speed of 68 knots.
The landing itself was successful, with the aircraft touching down at a distance of 180 meters and a speed of 57 knots. The touchdown rate was perfect at -42 feet per minute, indicating a smooth and controlled descent. However, the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned from the centreline by 8 meters.
The total landing distance was 605 meters, which accounted for 67% of the runway's length. The runway rollout alignment was also slightly misaligned from the centreline by 9.8 meters. Despite these minor deviations, the landing was considered good overall.
The total flight distance was 5 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 5 minutes. The aircraft used a total of 38 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The DA40-XLS aircraft successfully landed at EGHN Isle of Wight / Sandown Airport, achieving a score of 95.2%. The final approach was conducted from the north east, heading 225.0° at 1 nautical mile and 303 feet above ground level (agl). The aircraft maintained a good threshold height, and the threshold speed was also satisfactory at 68 knots.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft performed well, with a touchdown distance of 180 meters and a touchdown speed of 57 knots. The touchdown rate was particularly impressive, coming in at -42 feet per minute, which is considered perfect. However, there were some minor issues with the landing, as the runway touchdown position was misaligned by 8.0 meters from the centreline.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were relatively calm, with a temperature of 15°C and a wind speed of 3 knots from 239°. This resulted in a crosswind of 1 knot and a headwind of 2 knots. The total landing distance was 605 meters, which is 67% of the runway length. After touchdown, the aircraft's rollout alignment was slightly misaligned by 9.8 meters from the centreline, indicating a minor deviation from the ideal path.
Overall, the landing was considered successful, with the aircraft performing well in terms of speed, distance, and rate of descent. However, there were some minor issues with alignment, which will need to be addressed in future landings.
Scroll or drag the slider to zoom · double-click to reset · hover for values