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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
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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.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 5,000 ft of the approach.
Plan view — the first 5,000 ft of the 5,207 ft runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 806 ft 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 area to the runway, which took approximately 3 minutes and covered less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft, a P-38L Lightning, then departed from runway 08L at Miami International Airport (KMIA). The takeoff distance was 1,085 feet, which accounted for 13% of the runway length. The liftoff speed was 111 knots.
As the aircraft took off, it encountered local weather conditions with a temperature of 84 degrees Fahrenheit and winds of 11 knots at 139 degrees. The crosswind was 8 knots, while the headwind was 6 knots. After departing from KMIA, the aircraft began its enroute climb, which started overhead the airport and reached an altitude of 1,306 feet above sea level. This climb of 250 feet took less than 1 minute and covered less than 1 nautical mile.
The aircraft then entered a level cruise, which started 1 mile south east of Miami Springs and lasted for 2 minutes, covering 5 nautical miles. The enroute climb resumed 1 mile south east of El Portal, where the aircraft climbed from 940 feet to 2,189 feet above sea level, an increase of 1,250 feet in 2 minutes and covering 4 nautical miles. The aircraft then began its descent, which started overhead Surfside and ended at an altitude of 264 feet above sea level, a decrease of 1,987 feet in 2 minutes and covering 4 nautical miles.
The aircraft entered another level cruise, this time starting overhead Golden Beach and lasting for 6 minutes, covering 19 nautical miles. The flight then encountered a go-around situation at Boca Raton Airport (KBCT), where the aircraft performed a go-around from the south west, heading 44.0 degrees at 1 nautical mile and 188 feet above ground level.
The final approach to runway 05 at KBCT was from the south west, and the aircraft landed successfully, with a touchdown speed of 73 knots and a touchdown rate of -155 feet per minute. The touchdown distance was 690 feet, which was good considering the runway length of 5,207 feet. The runway touchdown alignment was very good, and the local weather conditions remained the same, with a temperature of 84 degrees Fahrenheit and winds of 11 knots at 139 degrees.
The crosswind was 11 knots, while the tailwind was 1 knot. The total landing distance was 1,994 feet, which accounted for 38% of the runway length. The runway rollout alignment was also very good. The total flight distance was 41 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 20 minutes. The aircraft used 310 pounds of fuel during the flight.
The aircraft in question is a P-38L Lightning, which successfully landed at KBCT Boca Raton Airport with a score of 97.7%. The final approach to runway 05 was initiated from the southwest, heading 44.0° at a distance of 1 nautical mile and an altitude of 188 feet above ground level (agl).
The pilot demonstrated excellent control and precision during the landing, achieving a good threshold height and speed. The threshold speed was recorded at 87 knots, which is within the acceptable range for a safe landing. The touchdown distance was also satisfactory, measuring 690 feet, and the touchdown speed was a respectable 73 knots. Furthermore, the touchdown rate of -155 feet per minute (fpm) was within the acceptable limits, indicating a smooth and controlled descent.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 84°F and a wind speed of 11 knots from a direction of 139°. Although there was a crosswind component of 11 knots, the pilot effectively managed it, resulting in a very good runway touchdown alignment. The total landing distance of 1,994 feet was only 38% of the runway length, demonstrating the pilot's skill and control.
Upon touchdown, the pilot maintained excellent control, ensuring a very good runway rollout alignment. Overall, the landing was a success, with the pilot demonstrating exceptional skills and control throughout the entire process. The score of 97.7% is a testament to the pilot's expertise and the aircraft's performance.
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