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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Keep the approach speed on target
Every knot above Vref is stored kinetic energy, and energy stored at the threshold must be dissipated in ground effect before the aeroplane will stop flying. Because kinetic energy scales with the square of speed, the excess you must dissipate grows fast. At a 45-knot approach, five knots hot is over a tenth more speed and roughly a quarter more energy to get rid of in ground effect. This is why the fix is never in the flare. It was decided three miles earlier, on final, at the airspeed indicator.
Read more in VRef ExplainedStart to finish · 17 stages, 15 scored
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: 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 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 1,737 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 560 m past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with a departure roll from runway 15 at Hibaldstow Airfield (EGHW), where the aircraft, a Pitts, took off with a takeoff distance of 146 meters, which accounted for 24% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 79 knots. At the time of takeoff, the local weather conditions were characterized by a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 1 knot at 114 degrees, resulting in a negligible crosswind and a slight headwind.
As the aircraft climbed to a higher altitude, it began its enroute climb from 995 feet above sea level (asl) to 3,335 ft asl, an increase of 2,340 feet in just 4 minutes, covering a distance of 8 nautical miles. The climb was initiated overhead Redbourne in North Lincolnshire, England. Following the climb, the aircraft began its enroute descent from 3,296 ft asl to 1,514 ft asl, a decrease of 1,782 feet in 3 minutes, covering 7 nautical miles. This descent started 2 miles north-east of RAF Scampton (EGXP) in Lincolnshire, England.
The aircraft then entered a level cruise phase, which began overhead Lincoln in Lincolnshire, England, and lasted for 5 minutes, covering a distance of 10 nautical miles. Subsequent enroute descents were initiated from various locations, including Welbourn and North Luffenham, with the aircraft descending from higher altitudes to lower ones. The aircraft also engaged in several level cruise phases, including one that lasted for 11 minutes, covering 23 nautical miles, and started 1 mile north of Ancaster in Lincolnshire, England.
The final approach to runway 04 at Deenethorpe Airfield (EG07) was initiated from the south, with the aircraft heading at 32.0 degrees at 0 nautical miles and 96 feet above ground level (agl). The landing on runway 04 was characterized by a touchdown point that was 227 meters beyond the touchdown zone, with a touchdown speed of 78 knots, which was too fast. The touchdown rate was good at -180 feet per minute (fpm), but the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 3.6 meters from the centreline.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were similar to those at takeoff, with a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 1 knot at 112 degrees, resulting in a negligible crosswind and a slight headwind. The total landing distance was 1,027 meters, which accounted for 59% of the runway. The runway rollout alignment was also misaligned by 15.8 meters from the centreline. The total flight distance was 61 nautical miles, taking 36 minutes, and the aircraft used 12 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The aircraft in question, a Pitts, successfully landed on runway 04 at EG07 Deenethorpe, but the landing was not without its issues. The final approach was initiated from the south, heading 32.0° at 0 nm and 96 ft above ground level (agl). The aircraft touched down 227 meters beyond the touchdown zone, which is a significant deviation from the intended landing spot.
Upon further analysis, it appears that the threshold height at 57 ft agl was slightly above the target, indicating that the aircraft may have been slightly high on its approach. Additionally, the threshold speed was excessively high at 96 kt, which is a concern as it may have put the aircraft at risk of overshooting the runway. The touchdown speed of 78 kt was also too fast, which could have resulted in a longer rollout distance.
The touchdown rate of -180 fpm was good, indicating that the aircraft was able to absorb the impact of landing smoothly. However, the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 3.6 meters from the centreline, which could have made the landing more challenging.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were relatively calm, with a temperature of 15°C and a wind speed of 1 kt at 112°. The crosswind was minimal, at 1 kt, and there was no headwind. Despite the favorable weather conditions, the pilot still struggled to achieve a precise landing.
The total landing distance was 1,027 meters, which is 59% of the runway length. This is a relatively long landing distance, indicating that the aircraft may have taken some time to come to a stop after touchdown. The runway rollout alignment was also misaligned by 15.8 meters from the centreline, which could have made it more difficult for the pilot to control the aircraft during the rollout phase.
Overall, while the aircraft was able to land safely, there were several issues with the landing that need to be addressed. The pilot should work on improving their approach and landing technique to achieve a more precise and controlled landing.
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