Events
Events
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 · 17 stages, 15 scored
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 1,230 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,230 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 236 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight in the XCub began with a departure roll on runway 18 at EDFB Reichelsheim Airfield. The takeoff distance was 316 m, which was 26% of the runway length. The liftoff speed was 79 kn. The local weather at the time of departure was 7°C with a crosswind of 0 kn and a headwind of 5 kn.
After takeoff, a left-hand pattern entry was made from runway 18 at EDFB Reichelsheim Airfield, covering a distance of less than 1 nm in 22 seconds. This was followed by a left-hand pattern crosswind leg, covering a similar distance in 29 seconds.
During the pattern downwind turn, the distance covered was 2 nm with an angle to the runway of 74.2°. The downwind leg of the pattern covered 2 nm in 58 seconds. The base leg turn covered 2 nm with an angle to the runway of 53.0°, followed by a 1 nm base leg in 46 seconds. The final turn covered less than 1 nm in 26 seconds before landing back on runway 18 at EDFB Reichelsheim Airfield.
The landing occurred on the 1,230 m runway with a height at threshold of 33 ft agl. The speed at threshold was 64 kn, with the touchdown occurring 234 m from the threshold at a speed of 58 kn and a VSI of -183 ft/m. The local weather during landing was 7°C with a crosswind of 0 kn and a headwind of 4 kn.
The total landing distance was 641 m, which was 52% of the runway length. The total flight distance was 9 nm, taking 8 minutes and consuming 3 kg of fuel.
Overall, the aircraft landing score of 97.3% is quite high and indicates a strong performance during the landing process.
Starting with the Approach Phase, the descent path was above the glideslope limit, indicating that the aircraft was descending too steeply. This can be a safety concern as it increases the risk of a hard landing. Additionally, the speed was well above the target, which could result in a longer landing distance and potentially overshooting the runway.
Moving on to the Landing Phase, it is commendable that the threshold height was good and the landing flare was executed perfectly. These factors contribute to a smoother touchdown and reduce the risk of damage to the aircraft and discomfort for passengers.
During the Touchdown Phase, although the touchdown rate was good and the touchdown distance was inside the touchdown zone, the speed was above the target. It is important to ensure that the aircraft is traveling at the correct speed to avoid a hard landing or bouncing upon touchdown. Additionally, the runway touchdown position being 2.0 m from the centerline is slightly off, indicating the need for improved alignment during the touchdown phase.
Finally, in the Rollout Phase, it is noted that the runway alignment was 3.7 m from the centerline. While this deviation is within an acceptable range, optimal alignment is crucial for a smooth rollout and to ensure the aircraft remains centered on the runway.
Overall, while the aircraft landing score of 97.3% is impressive, there are areas for improvement in the approach, touchdown, and rollout phases. By addressing the issues with descent path, speed control, touchdown alignment, and runway alignment, the landing performance can be further optimized for future flights. Keep up the good work and continue striving for excellence in every phase of the landing process.
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