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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 · 18 stages, 16 scored
Events
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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 1,157 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,157 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 33 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 03 at EIDL Donegal Airport, where the Cessna Skyhawk took off with a takeoff distance of 88 meters, which accounted for 8% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 51 knots, and the local weather conditions were characterized by a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 2 knots at 276 degrees.
As the aircraft entered the left-hand pattern, it covered a distance of 1 nautical mile in 18 seconds. The left-hand pattern crosswind was 2 knots, and the aircraft took less than 1 nautical mile to complete this section in 26 seconds. The pattern downwind turn covered a distance of 2 nautical miles, with an angle to the runway of 42.6 degrees. The downwind leg itself was 3 nautical miles long and took 104 seconds to complete.
The base leg turn covered a distance of 2 nautical miles, with an angle to the runway of 32.7 degrees. The base leg was less than 1 nautical mile long and took 19 seconds to complete. The final turn was also less than 1 nautical mile long and took 22 seconds to complete. The aircraft then began its final approach to runway 03 from the south, heading 358.0 degrees at 1 nautical mile and 361 feet above ground level.
The landing on runway 03 was successful, with a touchdown distance of 30 meters and a touchdown speed of 44 knots. The touchdown rate was smooth at -107 feet per minute, and the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 6.7 meters from the centerline. The total landing distance was 122 meters, which accounted for 11% of the runway. The runway rollout alignment was very good.
After landing, the aircraft taxied to the parking area from the runway, covering less than 1 nautical mile in 2 minutes. The total flight distance was 9 nautical miles, and the flight took 8 minutes to complete. The aircraft used 2 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The Cessna Skyhawk has successfully landed at Donegal Airport, achieving a score of 93.8%. The aircraft approached the runway from the south, heading 358.0° at 1 nautical mile and 361 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot executed a smooth final approach, taking into account the runway length of 1,157 meters and the threshold height.
Upon reaching the threshold speed of 46 knots, the pilot was reminded to be cautious not to stall, as the speed was well below the target. However, the pilot successfully managed the aircraft, achieving a good touchdown distance of 30 meters and a touchdown speed of 44 knots. The touchdown rate was also smooth, at -107 feet per minute (fpm).
Although the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 6.7 meters from the centerline, the pilot maintained good control of the aircraft. The local weather conditions were favorable, with a temperature of 15°C and a gentle wind of 2 knots at 276°. The crosswind was minimal, at 2 knots, while the headwind was negligible, at 0 knots.
The total landing distance of 122 meters was only 11% of the runway length, indicating a successful and efficient landing. Furthermore, the runway rollout alignment was very good, demonstrating the pilot's skill and control during the landing phase. Overall, the Cessna Skyhawk's landing at Donegal Airport was a success, with the pilot executing a smooth and controlled approach, touchdown, and rollout.
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