Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the pattern base leg turn
Bank angle in the pattern is conventionally kept to 20 to 30 degrees, and the base-to-final turn is where that convention earns its keep. Stall speed rises with bank because the wing must produce more lift in a turn. Roughly 7 per cent higher at 30 degrees, about 19 per cent at 45, and around 40 per cent at 60. At 65 kt on base you don't have much margin to spend steepening a turn to salvage an overshoot.
Read more in Pattern WorkStart to finish · 14 stages, 12 scored
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 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 1,113 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,113 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 211 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 21 at EG73 RNAS Fearn Air Base, a DA40-XLS aircraft taking to the skies. The takeoff distance was a relatively short 102 meters, accounting for just 9% of the runway's length. The aircraft lifted off at a speed of 62 knots, reaching the necessary altitude quickly.
As the aircraft entered the local airspace, the weather conditions were noted to be favorable, with a temperature of 16 degrees Celsius and a gentle wind blowing at 2 knots from a direction of 270 degrees. This resulted in a negligible crosswind component, but a slight headwind of 2 knots.
The pilot then initiated a left-hand pattern entry from runway 21, navigating the aircraft through the air traffic control's designated airspace. The distance covered during this maneuver was less than 1 nautical mile, achieved in a mere 16 seconds. The pilot then proceeded to execute a left-hand pattern crosswind, which took a slightly longer 22 seconds to complete.
As the aircraft entered the downwind leg of the pattern, it began to turn towards the runway, covering a distance of 1 nautical mile. The angle of the turn was 55.5 degrees, a standard maneuver for pilots to ensure a smooth and controlled descent. The downwind leg itself was 2 nautical miles long, taking 70 seconds to complete.
The pilot then initiated the base leg turn, a critical phase of the landing procedure. The distance covered during this turn was 1 nautical mile, with the aircraft turning at an angle of 13.0 degrees to the runway. This precise maneuver allowed the pilot to align the aircraft with the runway for a smooth final approach.
The final approach to runway 21 was executed from the east, with the aircraft heading 279.0 degrees and flying at an altitude of 1 nautical mile above ground level (agl). The pilot maintained a steady heading and altitude, ensuring a smooth and controlled descent.
The landing itself was a success, with the aircraft touching down on the runway at a speed of 49 knots. The touchdown distance was a respectable 209 meters, accounting for just 36% of the runway's length. The pilot maintained a smooth touchdown rate of -0.6 meters per second, and the runway touchdown alignment was very good.
The post-landing rollout was also smooth, with the aircraft maintaining a very good alignment with the runway. The total landing distance was 398 meters, a testament to the pilot's skill and control.
In conclusion, the flight was a success, with the pilot executing a series of precise and controlled maneuvers to bring the aircraft safely to the ground. The total flight distance was 5 nautical miles, taking just 4 minutes to complete, and the aircraft used a relatively small amount of fuel, just 2 kilograms.
The DA40-XLS aircraft successfully landed at EG73 RNAS Fearn Air Base, demonstrating a high level of proficiency in its pilot. The final approach was conducted from the east, heading 279.0° at 1 nautical mile and 79.3 meters above ground level (agl). This approach was executed with precision, as evident from the good threshold height and runway touchdown alignment.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft's performance was satisfactory, with a threshold speed slightly below the target at 63 knots. However, this did not compromise the overall landing, as the touchdown distance of 209 meters was within acceptable limits. The touchdown speed of 49 knots was also good, indicating a smooth and controlled descent. The touchdown rate of -0.6 meters per second was particularly noteworthy, as it demonstrated a high degree of control and precision.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were favorable, with a temperature of 15°C and a gentle headwind of 2 knots at 269°. The crosswind component was negligible, at 0 knots. These conditions likely contributed to the smooth and controlled nature of the landing.
The total landing distance of 398 meters was 36% of the runway length, which is a relatively short distance. This suggests that the aircraft was well-handled and that the pilot was able to maintain control throughout the landing. The runway rollout alignment was also very good, indicating that the pilot was able to maintain directional control and smoothly transition from the landing phase to the rollout phase.
Overall, this landing was a testament to the pilot's skill and experience, as well as the aircraft's performance capabilities. The high score of 97.7% reflects the excellence of the landing, and it is clear that the pilot was able to execute a precise and controlled approach and landing.
Scroll or drag the slider to zoom · double-click to reset · hover for values