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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the pattern downwind leg
The 45-degrees-behind-the-wing cue assumes you can turn your head and use peripheral vision. Downwind spacing cues like "put the wingtip halfway up the strut" assume a fixed, known eyepoint. Neither survives a monitor unmodified. If you fly on a fixed monitor, stop pretending and fly a numbers-based circuit.
Read more in Pattern WorkStart to finish · 16 stages, 14 scored
Events
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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.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,268 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,268 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 132 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight was conducted in an Aeroprakt A-32 Vixxen aircraft, a lightweight and versatile plane. The taxiing process from the parking area to the runway took less than a minute and covered a distance of less than a nautical mile. The departure roll from runway 31 at EGPI Islay Airport was smooth, with a takeoff distance of 70 meters, which is just 6% of the runway's total length. The liftoff speed was 32 knots, and the local weather conditions were favorable, with a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a gentle wind of 2 knots at 270 degrees.
As the aircraft entered the right-hand pattern from runway 31, it covered a distance of less than a nautical mile in just 25 seconds. The right-hand pattern crosswind leg was even shorter, taking only 13 seconds to complete. The pilot then executed a pattern downwind turn, covering a distance of 1 nautical mile at an angle of 84.8 degrees to the runway. The downwind leg itself was completed in less than 19 seconds, and the base leg turn was made at an angle of 67.5 degrees to the runway.
The base leg was flown for a distance of less than a nautical mile in 56 seconds, and the final turn was completed in just 37 seconds. The aircraft then began its final approach to runway 31 from the southeast, heading 302.0 degrees at an altitude of 173 feet above ground level. The landing was smooth, with a touchdown distance of 130 meters and a speed of 21 knots. The touchdown rate was perfect at -47 feet per minute, and the runway touchdown alignment was very good.
The local weather conditions remained favorable throughout the flight, with a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a gentle wind of 2 knots at 270 degrees. The crosswind was minimal at 1 knot, and the headwind was 2 knots. The total flight distance was 5 nautical miles, and the flight time was 4 minutes. Notably, the aircraft used no fuel during the flight, indicating exceptional efficiency.
The Aeroprakt A-32 Vixxen successfully landed at EGPI Islay Airport, showcasing its capabilities as a pioneering aircraft. The final approach to runway 31 was initiated from the south east, with the aircraft heading 302.0° at an altitude of 173 feet above ground level (agl) and a distance of 0 nautical miles from the runway.
The landing was executed with precision, with the aircraft touching down on the runway at a distance of 130 meters. This indicates a well-controlled approach and a smooth touchdown, which is a testament to the pilot's skill and the aircraft's handling characteristics. The touchdown speed of 21 knots was also within the acceptable range, suggesting that the pilot had maintained a stable approach and had not allowed the aircraft to descend too rapidly.
The threshold height was reported as good, which means that the aircraft was at the correct height as it approached the runway threshold. This is an important aspect of landing, as it allows the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft and ensure a safe touchdown. The threshold speed of 34 knots was also adhered to, which is a critical factor in ensuring a safe and controlled landing.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 15°C and a wind speed of 2 knots from 270°. This resulted in a crosswind of 1 knot and a headwind of 2 knots, which the pilot successfully managed to compensate for during the landing. The runway touchdown alignment was also reported as very good, indicating that the aircraft was aligned with the runway centerline at the moment of touchdown.
Overall, the landing of the Aeroprakt A-32 Vixxen at EGPI Islay Airport was a success, demonstrating the aircraft's capabilities and the pilot's skill. The combination of a well-controlled approach, a smooth touchdown, and a safe runway touchdown alignment made for a safe and successful landing.
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