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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 · 19 stages, 17 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.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 5,000 ft of the approach.
Plan view — the first 5,000 ft of the 8,403 ft runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 1,091 ft touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with the P-38L Lightning taxiing from the parking area to the runway, a process that took 6 minutes and covered less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft then departed from runway 22R at LFMN Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport, with a takeoff distance of 1,574 feet, which accounted for 19% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 119 knots.
As the aircraft climbed away from the airport, it encountered local weather conditions of 82°F temperature and a wind of 9 knots at 190°. The crosswind was 5 knots, while the headwind was 7 knots. The enroute climb started overhead the airport, with the aircraft rising from 1,028 feet above sea level to 2,201 feet, an increase of 1,173 feet in just 1 minute, covering a distance of 1 nautical mile.
Following the initial climb, the aircraft entered a level cruise, starting 1 mile south of the airport and lasting 3 minutes, during which it covered 10 nautical miles. The enroute descent then began overhead La Condamine, Monaco, with the aircraft descending from 1,985 feet to 237 feet, a decrease of 1,748 feet in 3 minutes, covering less than 1 nautical mile.
The aircraft then entered another level cruise, this time overhead La Condamine, Monaco, lasting 2 minutes and covering less than 1 nautical mile. A subsequent climb started from the same location, with the aircraft rising from 192 feet to 1,007 feet, an increase of 816 feet in 4 minutes, covering 7 nautical miles.
The final approach to runway 22R at LFMN Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport was made from the north-east, heading 227.0° at 2 nautical miles and 984 feet above ground level. The landing was successful, with a touchdown distance of 1,089 feet, a touchdown speed of 71 knots, and an excellent touchdown rate of -77 feet per minute. The runway touchdown alignment was very good, and the local weather conditions were 79°F temperature and a wind of 10 knots at 190°, with a crosswind of 6 knots and a headwind of 8 knots.
The total landing distance was 2,030 feet, accounting for 24% of the runway. The runway rollout alignment was perfect, and the aircraft then taxied to the parking area, a process that took 3 minutes and covered less than 1 nautical mile. The total flight distance was 23 nautical miles, taking 19 minutes, and the aircraft used -1,980 pounds of fuel.
The P-38L Lightning aircraft successfully landed at LFMN Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport, achieving a score of 99.4%. The final approach to runway 22R was conducted from the north east, heading 227.0° at 2 nautical miles and 984 feet above ground level (agl). The aircraft demonstrated good control and precision throughout the approach, ultimately landing safely on the runway.
The landing was executed with a threshold height that was considered good, and the threshold speed was slightly above the target at 91 knots. This indicates that the pilot maintained a safe and controlled approach speed. The touchdown distance of 1,089 feet was also within acceptable limits, and the touchdown speed of 71 knots was good, suggesting that the pilot managed to slow the aircraft down effectively.
The touchdown rate of -77 feet per minute (fpm) was excellent, indicating a smooth and controlled descent. The runway touchdown alignment was very good, which is a critical aspect of a safe landing. The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 79°F and a wind speed of 10 knots at 190°. The crosswind component was 6 knots, while the headwind component was 8 knots, which is relatively minor and did not pose a significant challenge to the pilot.
The total landing distance of 2,030 feet was 24% of the runway length, which is a relatively short distance considering the aircraft's size and weight. This suggests that the pilot executed a well-planned and controlled approach, and the aircraft responded well to the controls. The runway rollout alignment was perfect, indicating that the pilot maintained control of the aircraft during the rollout phase and brought it to a safe stop.
Overall, the landing was a success, and the pilot demonstrated excellent skills and control throughout the approach and landing phases. The aircraft's performance was also impressive, responding well to the pilot's inputs and executing a smooth and controlled landing.
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