Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
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 · 15 stages, 13 scored
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
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.
Side view — the last 1,317 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,317 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 170 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with a taxiing period from the parking to the runway, which took 18 minutes and covered a distance of 3 nautical miles. The aircraft, a Beechcraft Duke, then departed from runway 21 at Jacarepaguá - Roberto Marinho Airport, a small airport in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The takeoff distance was 328 meters, which accounted for 36% of the runway length. The aircraft lifted off at a speed of 81 knots, and the local weather conditions at the time of departure were characterized by a temperature of 27 degrees Celsius, a wind speed of 5 knots at 133 degrees, with a crosswind of 4 knots and a headwind of 3 knots.
As the aircraft climbed away from the airport, it began its enroute climb, which started overhead the airport. The climb took the aircraft from an altitude of 696 feet above sea level to 1,525 feet above sea level, an increase of 829 feet in just 2 minutes, covering a distance of 5 nautical miles. The enroute level cruise then began 4 miles southeast of the airport, lasting for 4 minutes and covering a distance of 11 nautical miles.
As the aircraft approached its destination, Santos Dumont Airport, it began its enroute descent, which started 1 mile southeast of the airport. The descent took the aircraft from an altitude of 1,389 feet above sea level to 291 feet above sea level, a decrease of 1,099 feet in just 2 minutes, covering a distance of 2 nautical miles. The final approach to runway 20L at Santos Dumont Airport was made from the north, heading 179.0 degrees at an altitude of 277 feet above ground level, 1 nautical mile from the runway.
The landing on runway 20L was successful, with a touchdown distance of 168 meters, which was well within the runway length of 1,317 meters. The touchdown speed was 69 knots, and the touchdown rate was fair at -206 feet per minute. The runway touchdown alignment was very good, and the runway rollout alignment was perfect. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 26 degrees Celsius, a wind speed of 5 knots at 170 degrees, with a crosswind of 1 knot and a headwind of 5 knots.
The total flight distance was 23 nautical miles, and the flight took 20 minutes to complete, using 25 kilograms of fuel. The taxiing period from the runway to the parking took just 1 minute, covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile. Overall, the flight was a successful one, with good weather conditions and a smooth landing.
The Beechcraft Duke aircraft successfully landed at SBRJ Santos Dumont Airport, achieving a score of 97.7%. The final approach to runway 20L was conducted from the north, with a heading of 179.0° at 1 nautical mile and 277 feet above ground level (agl). The aircraft demonstrated good control and precision during the approach, ultimately landing safely on the runway.
The landing was executed with a threshold speed of 76 knots, which was well below the target speed, indicating a cautious approach to avoid stalling. The touchdown distance of 168 meters was also good, and the touchdown speed of 69 knots was within acceptable limits. However, the touchdown rate of -206 feet per minute (fpm) was only fair, suggesting that the aircraft could have been brought down more smoothly.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 26°C and a gentle headwind of 5 knots at 170°. The crosswind component was minimal, at just 1 knot. These conditions likely contributed to the successful landing, as they allowed the aircraft to maintain a stable approach and touchdown.
The total landing distance of 634 meters was 48% of the runway length, indicating that the aircraft was able to stop safely within a reasonable distance. The runway rollout alignment was perfect, demonstrating the pilot's skill and control during the landing. Overall, the Beechcraft Duke's landing at SBRJ Santos Dumont Airport was a success, with the aircraft performing well in a variety of conditions.
Scroll or drag the slider to zoom · double-click to reset · hover for values