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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Avoid steep turns at low altitude
Below a thousand feet the aeroplane is slow, heavy and close to the ground. A steep turn loses lift, raises the stall speed and flattens the climb just when the gradient matters most. A normal turn on course is a rate one — fifteen degrees or so, twenty-five at the outside, this penalty is to acknowledge when a turn has stopped being a turn and become a manoeuvre.
Read more in Improve Your Take-OffsStart to finish · 16 stages, 14 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.
At the 500 ft gate: sink rate above what the glideslope needed.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 5,000 ft of the approach.
Plan view — the first 5,000 ft of the 5,632 ft runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 995 ft touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
This flight was conducted in the Black Square Starship, registered as N45FL. The flight began with a taxiing period of 7 minutes from the parking area to the runway, covering a distance of 2 nautical miles (nm). The departure roll commenced from runway 23 at KSFZ North Central State Airport, where the aircraft lifted off in 3,242 feet, which accounted for 65% of the runway's length. The liftoff speed recorded was 111 knots, with an initial climb angle suitable for takeoff.
As the flight progressed, the Black Square Starship transitioned into an enroute climb phase, commencing its ascent from 1,032 feet above sea level to 15,751 feet above sea level. This climb phase lasted for 7 minutes and spanned a distance of 20 nm. Following the climb, the aircraft entered its level cruise phase, hovering over Ashland, Massachusetts, for 8 minutes while covering a significant 46 nm.
The enroute descent phase began approximately 2 miles northwest of Auburn, New Hampshire. The aircraft descended from 15,761 feet above sea level to 983 feet above sea level, marking a significant reduction of 14,778 feet in a mere 9 minutes, while covering a distance of 32 nm. The descent brought the Black Square Starship to the final approach phase, which involved a gradual descent to runway 08 at KLCI Laconia Municipal Airport. The approach involved a heading of 66.0 degrees at a height of 420 feet above ground level and 1 nautical mile from the threshold.
Upon landing, the aircraft touched down on runway 08 with an excellent threshold height, slightly above the target at 116 knots. The touchdown speed and distance were both within acceptable limits, at 103 knots and 1,001 feet, respectively. The touchdown rate was remarkably good at -60 feet per minute, while the runway touchdown alignment was perfect. The crosswind conditions presented during landing were minimal, with a 10-kt crosswind and a 5-kt headwind.
After landing, the Black Square Starship underwent a taxiing phase from the runway to the parking area, which consumed 1 minute and spanned less than 1 nm. Overall, the flight recorded a total distance of 102 nm, covering an approximate duration of 31 minutes and utilizing 396 pounds of fuel.
The Black Square Starship N45FL successfully completed a precise landing at KLCI Laconia Municipal Airport, showcasing exceptional piloting skills. The aircraft approached the runway from the south west, with a heading of 66.0° at 1 nautical mile and 420 feet above ground level (agl). This approach path allowed the pilots to maintain optimal visibility of the runway and surrounding environment.
As the aircraft executed the final approach, it displayed a high level of situational awareness, with pilots controlling the aircraft to maintain a runway touchdown at a suitable speed and distance. The threshold height, an essential aspect for landing, was satisfactory, but the threshold speed was slightly above the desired target at 116 knots.
Notwithstanding this minor deviation, the aircraft landed smoothly, with a touchdown distance of 1,001 feet and a touchdown speed of 103 knots. The touchdown rate, which is a critical factor in determining landing efficiency, was impressive at -60 feet per minute. Additionally, the runway touchdown alignment was perfect, indicating that the pilots had expertly managed the aircraft, allowing them to achieve a precise touchdown on the centerline of the runway.
Weather conditions at the time of landing were favorable, with a temperature of 72°F and wind at 11 knots from 130°. Although a crosswind of 10 knots was present, the pilots were able to effectively compensate for this, achieving a relatively small crosswind component. The headwind component, with a speed of 5 knots, further assisted in stabilizing the aircraft's descent and touchdown.
Following touchdown, the aircraft's rollout was well-aligned with the runway centerline, demonstrating that the pilot's control over the aircraft during the landing phase was exceptionally good. This excellent control and precise execution ultimately led to a very efficient landing, with a total distance of 2,991 feet, representing 53% of the runway length of 5,632 feet.
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