Events
Events
MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the pattern downwind leg
The 45-degrees-behind-the-wing cue assumes you can turn your head and use peripheral vision. Downwind spacing cues like "put the wingtip halfway up the strut" assume a fixed, known eyepoint. Neither survives a monitor unmodified. If you fly on a fixed monitor, stop pretending and fly a numbers-based circuit.
Read more in Pattern WorkStart to finish · 15 stages, 14 scored
Events
Events
One stabilised approach gate for a circuit: six checks at the point nearest 500 ft above the runway after the base turn. The 1,000 ft gate is an instrument-approach check and does not apply.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 1,814 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 576 m past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with a quick taxi from the parking area to the runway, taking less than a minute and covering a distance of less than a nautical mile. The aircraft, a PA38 Tomahawk, then departed from runway 23 at EGPE Inverness Airport. The takeoff distance was 385 meters, which accounted for 21% of the runway length. The liftoff speed was 60 knots, and the local weather conditions were characterized by a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 1 knot from 270 degrees.
The pilot then entered a left-hand pattern from runway 23, covering a distance of less than a nautical mile in 14 seconds. The pattern crosswind was also from the left, and the pilot navigated this section in 27 seconds. The downwind turn was made at an angle of 86.3 degrees to the runway, and the pilot covered a distance of 1 nautical mile during this phase. The downwind leg itself was 2 nautical miles long and took 76 seconds to complete.
As the pilot began the base leg turn, they covered a distance of 1 nautical mile and turned at an angle of 44.8 degrees to the runway. The base leg was then completed in 26 seconds, covering a distance of less than a nautical mile. The final turn was made in 25 seconds, and the pilot then began their final approach to runway 23 from the north-east, heading 230 degrees at an altitude of 329 feet above ground level and 1 nautical mile from the runway.
The landing was executed smoothly, with the pilot touching down 134 meters beyond the touchdown zone. The touchdown speed was 42 knots, which was within the target range, and the touchdown rate was perfect at -27 feet per minute. The runway touchdown alignment was also perfect, indicating a well-executed landing. The local weather conditions remained the same, with a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 1 knot from 270 degrees.
The total flight distance was 6 nautical miles, and the flight took 5 minutes to complete. The aircraft used 1 kilogram of fuel during the flight. Overall, the flight was executed smoothly and efficiently, with the pilot demonstrating good control and navigation skills throughout the flight.
The PA38 Tomahawk aircraft successfully landed at EGPE Inverness Airport, achieving a high score of 95.1%. The final approach was conducted from the north east, heading 230.0° at 1 nautical mile and 329 feet above ground level (agl). This approach was executed with precision, taking into account the runway length of 1,814 meters and the local weather conditions.
The aircraft touched down on runway 23, which is the designated runway for landing at EGPE Inverness Airport. The threshold height was good, indicating that the aircraft was at the correct altitude as it approached the runway. However, the threshold speed was above the target speed of 74 kt, suggesting that the pilot may have been able to make adjustments to achieve a smoother landing.
The touchdown point was 134 meters beyond the touchdown zone, which is a relatively minor deviation from the ideal landing spot. Nevertheless, the touchdown speed of 42 kt was good, indicating that the aircraft was able to slow down effectively and maintain control during the landing. The touchdown rate of -27 fpm was also perfect, demonstrating that the aircraft was able to touch down smoothly and avoid any excessive deceleration.
The runway touchdown alignment was perfect, indicating that the aircraft was properly aligned with the runway as it touched down. This is an important aspect of landing, as it helps to ensure that the aircraft remains stable and under control during the landing process.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 15°C and a wind speed of 1 kt from 270°. This resulted in a negligible crosswind and headwind, making the landing process even smoother. Overall, the PA38 Tomahawk aircraft demonstrated excellent landing skills, achieving a high score and showcasing the pilot's ability to navigate challenging weather conditions.
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