Events
Events
Events
Events
MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Avoid steep turns at low altitude
Below a thousand feet the aeroplane is slow, heavy and close to the ground. A steep turn loses lift, raises the stall speed and flattens the climb just when the gradient matters most. A normal turn on course is a rate one — fifteen degrees or so, twenty-five at the outside, this penalty is to acknowledge when a turn has stopped being a turn and become a manoeuvre.
Read more in Improve Your Take-OffsStart to finish · 12 stages, 11 scored
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: seven 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.
At the 500 ft gate: off the centreline.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 3,875 ft of the approach.
Plan view — the full 3,875 ft runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 730 ft touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with the aircraft, a Beechcraft A36 Bonanza, taxiing from the parking area to the runway at KBDU Boulder Municipal Airport. This process took approximately 2 minutes and covered a distance of less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft then departed from runway 08, with a takeoff distance of 1,737 feet, which is 45% of the runway length. The liftoff speed was 82 knots.
The local weather conditions at the time of departure were characterized by a temperature of 44°F and a wind speed of 5 knots from a direction of 190°. The crosswind component was 4 knots, while the tailwind component was 1 knot. The aircraft began its enroute climb approximately 1 mile southwest of Gunbarrel, Colorado, and ascended from an altitude of 5,904 feet above sea level to 7,105 feet above sea level, an increase of 1,201 feet in 2 minutes, covering a distance of 3 nautical miles.
As the aircraft continued its journey, it began its enroute descent overhead CO10 Lemons Private Strip Boulder, Colorado. The descent took place from an altitude of 7,111 feet above sea level to 5,755 feet above sea level, a decrease of 1,356 feet in 3 minutes, covering a distance of 3 nautical miles. The aircraft then began its final approach to runway 08 at KBDU Boulder Municipal Airport from the west, heading 89.0° at an altitude of 460 feet above ground level and a distance of 1 nautical mile from the runway.
The landing was successful, with the aircraft touching down on the runway at a speed of 65 knots. The touchdown distance was 719 feet, and the touchdown rate was smooth at -118 feet per minute. The runway touchdown alignment was perfect, and the threshold speed was good at 72 knots. The local weather conditions remained the same, with a temperature of 44°F.
In total, the flight covered a distance of 9 nautical miles and took approximately 8 minutes to complete. The aircraft used 7 pounds of fuel during the flight.
The Beechcraft A36 Bonanza successfully landed at KBDU Boulder Municipal Airport, achieving a near-perfect score of 99.9%. The aircraft approached the runway from the west, heading 89.0° at a distance of 1 nautical mile and an altitude of 460 feet above ground level (agl). This indicates a precise and controlled approach, with the pilot maintaining a steady heading and altitude.
Upon reaching the runway, the aircraft touched down smoothly, with a touchdown speed of 65 knots being well within the acceptable range. The threshold speed of 72 knots was also met, demonstrating the pilot's ability to manage the aircraft's speed during the final stages of the approach. The touchdown distance of 719 feet was also satisfactory, given the runway length of 3,875 feet.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were characterized by a temperature of 44°F, which is relatively cool. However, this did not appear to affect the aircraft's performance or the pilot's ability to execute a smooth landing. The touchdown rate of -118 feet per minute (fpm) was also smooth, indicating that the aircraft was brought to a stop quickly and safely.
One of the most impressive aspects of this landing was the perfect runway touchdown alignment. This suggests that the pilot was able to maintain a steady heading and altitude throughout the approach, and that the aircraft was aligned with the runway centerline at the moment of touchdown. This level of precision is a testament to the pilot's skill and experience, and is a key factor in ensuring a safe and successful landing. Overall, this landing was a textbook example of a well-executed approach and landing, with the pilot demonstrating a high level of proficiency and control.
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