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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 · 15 stages, 13 scored
Events
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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 970 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 970 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 203 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 05 at EGHF Solent Airport, where the aircraft, a Piper PA-24-250 Comanche, accelerated down the runway and lifted off at a speed of 68 kt. The takeoff distance was 139 m, which accounted for 12% of the runway. The local weather conditions at the time of departure were characterized by a temperature of 15 °C and a wind of 10 kt at 11 °, resulting in a crosswind of 6 kt and a headwind of 8 kt.
As the aircraft climbed away from the airport, it began its enroute climb, which started overhead EGHF Solent Airport at Lee-on-Solent. The aircraft climbed from an altitude of 932 ft asl to 4,485 ft asl, an increase of 3,554 ft, in just 2 minutes, covering a distance of 3 nm. This rapid ascent was followed by a brief enroute level cruise, which lasted 2 minutes and covered another 3 nm, as the aircraft flew overhead Gosport.
The enroute descent began 1 mile south west of South Hayling, where the aircraft started its descent from 4,881 ft asl to 1,003 ft asl, a decrease of 3,878 ft, in 6 minutes, covering a distance of 11 nm. Following this descent, the aircraft entered another enroute level cruise, which started 1 mile south east of Chichester and lasted 3 minutes, covering 3 nm.
As the aircraft approached its destination, it began its final approach to runway 32 at EGHR Goodwood Aerodrome, flying from the south east and heading 324.0 ° at 0 nm and 223 ft agl. The landing was smooth, with a touchdown speed of 55 kt and a touchdown rate of -172 fpm. The touchdown distance was 200 m, which was good, and the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 7.6 m from the centreline.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were the same as at the time of departure, with a temperature of 15 °C and a wind of 10 kt at 11 °, resulting in a crosswind of 8 kt and a headwind of 6 kt. The total landing distance was 442 m, which accounted for 46% of the runway. The runway rollout alignment was very good, and the aircraft taxied to the parking area from the runway in less than 1 minute, covering a distance of less than 1 nm.
In total, the flight covered a distance of 21 nm and used 9 kg of fuel, taking 15 minutes to complete.
The Piper PA-24-250 Comanche successfully landed at EGHR Goodwood Aerodrome, achieving a score of 92.3%. The aircraft approached the runway from the south east, heading 324.0° at an altitude of 223 feet above ground level (agl) and 0 nautical miles from the runway. The pilot executed a precise final approach, maintaining a good threshold height and speed of 66 knots.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft demonstrated excellent control, with a touchdown speed of 55 knots and a rate of -172 feet per minute. The touchdown distance of 200 meters was also within acceptable limits. However, the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 7.6 meters from the centerline, which may require some adjustments in the pilot's approach technique.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were favorable, with a temperature of 15°C and a gentle wind of 10 knots at 11°. The crosswind component was 8 knots, while the headwind component was 6 knots. These conditions did not appear to have a significant impact on the landing, as the pilot was able to maintain control and execute a smooth touchdown.
The total landing distance of 442 meters was 46% of the runway length, which is a relatively short distance. This suggests that the pilot was able to bring the aircraft to a stop quickly and efficiently, with a very good runway rollout alignment. Overall, the landing was a success, with the pilot demonstrating excellent control and precision throughout the approach and touchdown phases.
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