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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Know your rotation speed
See Departure Roll
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 · 19 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 seven checks, where the approach path is 1,000 ft and 500 ft above the runway.
At the 1,000 ft gate: speed above the reference speed.
At the 500 ft gate: speed above the reference speed.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 5,000 ft of the approach.
Plan view — the first 5,000 ft of the 6,573 ft runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 1,280 ft touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The Cessna CJ4 Citation taxied from the parking area to runway 29 at KMSY Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, a movement that required 9 minutes and covered 2 nm.
During the departure roll on runway 29, the aircraft used 5,267 ft of runway, representing 54 % of the available length, and lifted off at 196 kt; ambient conditions were 67 °F with a wind of 2 kt from 270°, a 1 kt cross-wind component and a 2 kt head-wind component.
Climb commenced 1 mile west of KMSY, with the aircraft ascending from 1,037 ft asl to 20,009 ft asl, an increase of 18,973 ft achieved in 8 minutes while covering 35 nm.
The first level-cruise segment began 2 miles southeast of Donaldsonville, lasting 27 minutes and extending over 180 nm.
Descent started 1 mile southwest of XS29 Sonny Broussard Landing Strip in Texas, with the aircraft descending from 19,932 ft asl to 2,037 ft asl, a loss of 17,895 ft accomplished in 12 minutes across 54 nm.
A subsequent level-cruise phase originated 1 mile northeast of Hilshire Village, persisted for 3 minutes and spanned 9 nm.
The final approach to runway 13R at KHOU William P Hobby Airport was flown from the northwest on a heading of 134.0°, entering the approach at 4 nm and 1,269 ft agl.
Landing on runway 13R, which is 6,573 ft long, was executed with a threshold speed of 119 kt; touchdown occurred 1,279 ft down the runway at 107 kt, with a vertical speed of minus 164 fpm and very good alignment; local weather reported 59 °F with a wind of 2 kt from 270°, a 1 kt cross-wind and a 1 kt tail-wind component. The total landing distance measured 2,755 ft, equivalent to 42 % of the runway.
Runway rollout alignment was recorded as very good.
After landing, the aircraft taxied to the parking area in 2 minutes, covering less than 1 nm.
In total, the flight covered 285 nm, required 59 minutes of elapsed time, and consumed 0 lbs of fuel.
The Cessna CJ4 Citation approached runway 13R at KHOU William P Hobby Airport on a final approach from the north-west, heading 134.0° at 4 nm and 1,269 ft AGL. The approach was assessed as stabilised at the 1,000 ft gate, with gear, flaps, sink rate, glideslope and centreline all within limits.
At threshold the speed was recorded as too high at 119 kt, though the threshold height was good. Touchdown distance was good at 1,279 ft and touchdown speed was fast at 107 kt, with a touchdown rate of -164 fpm and runway touchdown alignment described as very good. Total landing distance was 2,755 ft, representing 42 % of the 6,573-ft runway.
The rollout continued with runway rollout alignment very good, and the aircraft remained on centreline through the deceleration phase.
Reduce the threshold speed to bring it within the target range and manage the approach to achieve a lower touchdown speed; these adjustments will further optimise the landing profile while preserving the already strong alignment and distance performance.
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