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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 · 14 stages, 12 scored
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Two stabilised approach gates, each with six checks at 1,000 ft and 500 ft above the runway.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 4,977 ft of the approach.
Plan view — the full 4,977 ft runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 901 ft 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 26 at KBUR Hollywood Burbank Airport, where the Spitfire Mk IX took off with a takeoff distance of 2,148 ft, which accounted for 37% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 118 kt, and the local weather conditions at the time were characterized by a temperature of 60 °F and a wind speed of 4 kt at 270 °, resulting in a headwind of 4 kt and no crosswind.
As the aircraft climbed away from the airport, it began its enroute climb 1 mile north west of North Hollywood, California. The climb started from an altitude of 1,569 ft above sea level and reached 1,700 ft asl in less than 1 minute, covering a distance of less than 1 nm. This rapid ascent was a testament to the Spitfire's impressive climb capabilities.
Following the initial climb, the aircraft entered a level cruise phase, which started 1 mile east of Van Nuys, California. This cruise lasted for 2 minutes and covered a distance of 5 nm. The aircraft then began its enroute descent 2 miles south of Sherman Oaks, California, where it descended from 1,824 ft asl to 1,032 ft asl in 2 minutes, covering a distance of 5 nm.
The Spitfire then entered another level cruise phase, which started 1 mile north of Santa Monica, California. This cruise lasted for 3 minutes and covered a distance of 3 nm. The aircraft's final approach to runway 21 at KSMO Santa Monica Municipal Airport began from the north east, with a heading of 224.0 ° at 0 nm and an altitude of 137 ft above ground level.
The landing on runway 21 was characterized by a threshold speed that was too high at 97 kt, but the touchdown distance was good at 898 ft. The touchdown speed was 89 kt, which was considered fast, and the touchdown rate was fair at -267 fpm. The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 11 ft from the centreline. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were similar to those at departure, with a temperature of 59 °F and a wind speed of 6 kt at 270 °, resulting in a headwind of 4 kt and a crosswind of 4 kt.
The total landing distance was 2,637 ft, which accounted for 53% of the runway. The runway rollout alignment was perfect, indicating that the pilot had maintained control of the aircraft throughout the landing process. The total flight distance was 16 nm, and the flight duration was 8 minutes, during which the aircraft used 80 lbs of fuel.
The Spitfire Mk IX aircraft successfully landed at KSMO Santa Monica Municipal Airport, with a final approach from the north east at a heading of 224.0°. The aircraft was at an altitude of 137 feet above ground level (agl) and 0 nautical miles from the runway threshold. The pilot executed a good approach, touching down on runway 21, which has a length of 4,977 feet.
However, there were a few areas for improvement in the landing. The threshold speed was too high at 97 knots, which may have contributed to a slightly faster touchdown speed of 89 knots. This resulted in a touchdown rate of -267 feet per minute, which was considered fair. The touchdown distance of 898 feet was good, indicating that the pilot maintained control and managed the aircraft's descent effectively.
The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 11 feet from the centreline, which may have been due to a slight deviation in the pilot's approach or a minor issue with the aircraft's alignment. Despite this, the runway rollout alignment was perfect, indicating that the pilot maintained control and smoothly transitioned from the landing phase to the rollout phase.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 59°F and a light wind of 6 knots from 270°. The crosswind and headwind components were both 4 knots, which was relatively minimal and did not pose a significant challenge to the pilot. Overall, the landing was considered successful, with a total landing distance of 2,637 feet, which was 53% of the runway length.
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