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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 · 15 stages, 14 scored
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
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.
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 2,353 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 141 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 23 at Glasgow International Airport, with the DA42-VI aircraft taking off in a relatively short distance of 91 meters, which accounted for just 4% of the runway's length. The liftoff speed was 79 knots, and the local weather conditions were characterized by a temperature of 16 degrees Celsius and a gentle wind blowing at 2 knots from a direction of 270 degrees. This resulted in a negligible crosswind and headwind, with the aircraft experiencing a slight tailwind of 1 knot.
As the aircraft entered the right-hand pattern, it did so from runway 23, with the entry distance being less than 1 nautical mile in just 18 seconds. The subsequent right-hand pattern crosswind leg was completed in an even shorter distance of less than 1 nautical mile in 8 seconds. The aircraft then proceeded to the downwind turn, which covered a distance of 1 nautical mile and involved a turn of 45 degrees to align with the runway.
The downwind leg itself was 2 nautical miles long and took 70 seconds to complete. Following this, the aircraft turned onto the base leg, which covered a distance of 2 nautical miles and involved a turn of 45 degrees to align with the runway. The base leg itself was less than 1 nautical mile long and took just 9 seconds to complete.
The final turn was the last leg of the approach, covering a distance of 1 nautical mile in 46 seconds. The aircraft then began its final approach to runway 23, flying from the north-east at a heading of 228 degrees and at an altitude of 70 meters above ground level. The landing was smooth, with the aircraft touching down at a speed of 70 knots and a touchdown distance of 140 meters, which was just 19% of the runway's length.
The touchdown rate was also good, at -0.8 meters per second, and the runway touchdown alignment was very good. The aircraft then rolled out on the runway, maintaining perfect alignment. The total landing distance was 438 meters, and the total flight distance was 5 nautical miles, which was completed in just 4 minutes. The flight used a total of 14 kilograms of fuel.
The DA42-VI aircraft successfully landed on runway 23 at EGPF Glasgow International Airport, demonstrating a high level of proficiency in its pilot. The final approach was initiated from the north east, heading 228.0° at 1 nm and 70.0 meters above ground level (agl), showcasing precise navigation and control.
Upon landing, the aircraft touched down at a speed of 70 kn, which is within the acceptable threshold speed of 78 kn. The touchdown distance of 140 meters was also satisfactory, indicating a smooth and controlled descent. The touchdown rate of -0.8 m/s was within the desired range, further emphasizing the pilot's skill in managing the aircraft's descent.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were favorable, with a temperature of 16°C and a gentle wind of 2 kn at 270°. The crosswind and headwind components were minimal, at 1 kn each, which contributed to a stable and predictable landing. The runway length of 2,353 meters provided ample space for the aircraft to land and roll out safely.
The total landing distance of 438 meters was only 19% of the runway length, indicating a short and controlled rollout. The runway rollout alignment was perfect, demonstrating the pilot's ability to maintain control and stability during the landing phase. Overall, this landing performance is a testament to the pilot's expertise and the aircraft's capabilities, showcasing a high level of proficiency in aviation.
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