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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 · 18 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.
Two stabilised approach gates, each with five checks, where the approach path is 1,000 ft and 500 ft above the runway.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 2,182 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 632 m past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
Departure from Pointe-à-Pitre Le Raizet International Airport, TFFR, was marked by a 10-minute taxiing period from the parking area to the runway, covering a distance of 2 nautical miles. The aircraft then began its departure roll on runway 12, accelerating to a liftoff speed of 137 knots. The takeoff distance of 1,091 meters accounted for 38% of the runway length, with a local temperature of 28°C and a headwind of 11 knots contributing to the aircraft's performance.
The enroute climb phase commenced overhead Les Abymes, Guadeloupe, where the aircraft transitioned from a ground elevation of 947 feet to a cruising altitude of 37,990 feet, a vertical increase of 37,043 feet in 20 minutes. This climb phase covered a distance of 101 nautical miles. The aircraft then entered a level cruise phase, lasting 284 minutes and covering 1,973 nautical miles, before initiating a descent phase 34 miles east of Chimore Airport, Bolivia. The descent from 37,909 feet to 3,396 feet took 16 minutes and covered 104 nautical miles. A brief level cruise phase followed, lasting 4 minutes and covering 13 nautical miles, before the aircraft began its final approach to runway 16 at El Trompillo Airport, SLET.
The final approach was executed from the north-west, with a heading of 143.0° at 4 nautical miles and 1,207 feet above ground level. The aircraft landed on runway 16, a 2,182-meter-long runway, with a touchdown point 211 meters beyond the touchdown zone. The touchdown speed of 110 knots was within acceptable limits, and the touchdown rate of -117 feet per minute was smooth. The runway touchdown alignment was very good, despite a slightly misaligned runway rollout alignment of 7.6 meters from the centerline. The total landing distance of 976 meters accounted for 45% of the runway length. Following a 3-minute taxiing period from the runway to the parking area, the aircraft completed its journey, covering a total distance of 2,200 nautical miles and consuming 434 kilograms of fuel in 338 minutes.
The final approach to runway 16 at SLET El Trompillo Airport from the north west was executed with precision, with the aircraft maintaining a heading of 143.0° at 4 nm and 1,207 ft above ground level. The approach quality was satisfactory, with a good threshold height achieved. However, the threshold speed was above the target, reaching 130 kt, which may have been due to the prevailing wind conditions. The wind was blowing at 13 kt from 160°, resulting in a 4 kt crosswind and a 13 kt headwind.
As the aircraft touched down on the runway, the touchdown point was 211 m beyond the touchdown zone, indicating a slightly long touchdown. Nevertheless, the touchdown speed of 110 kt was within acceptable limits, and the touchdown rate of -117 fpm was smooth, suggesting a well-controlled descent. The runway touchdown alignment was very good, with the aircraft maintaining its centerline alignment. The local weather conditions, with a temperature of 18 °C and a moderate headwind, contributed to a relatively smooth landing.
The total landing distance of 976 m was 45% of the runway length, indicating a relatively short landing distance. However, the runway rollout alignment was slightly misaligned by 7.6 m from the centreline, which may have been due to a slight deviation during the rollout phase. Despite this minor deviation, the overall landing performance was satisfactory, with a score of 95.7% achieved.
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