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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Maintain the centreline
A small uncorrected heading error at 40 knots becomes a metre of offset per second by 100 knots, noticed only at rotation, producing a crabbed liftoff. Root cause is nearly always eyes on the tape instead of the far end of the runway. Small heading changes displace a distant point visibly long before the nearby centreline stripes look wrong.
Read more in Improve Your Take-OffsStart to finish · 16 stages, 14 scored
Events
Events
Events
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 660 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 660 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 108 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
This flight commenced with the departure roll from runway 11 at Haydock Park Airstrip, denoted as EGGL. The VL3 aircraft accelerated down the runway and lifted off at a speed of 72 kt, requiring just 223m or 34% of the total runway length to become airborne. The takeoff conditions were favorable, with a local temperature of 16°C and a gentle breeze of 3 kt blowing at an angle of 29°, resulting in a negligible headwind and no measurable crosswind.
As the aircraft began its first turn after takeoff, it entered a right-hand pattern over the runway. The right-hand pattern entry from runway 11 was completed within a distance of less than 1 nautical mile in 187 seconds. The subsequent right-hand pattern crosswind turn was equally swift, covering less than 1 nautical mile in just 3 seconds.
During the approach to the runway, the VL3 navigated through several turns, including the pattern downwind turn, where the distance covered was approximately 4 nautical miles at an angle of 11.3° with respect to the runway. After the downwind leg, which lasted just 5 seconds, the aircraft began a turn to align with the base leg. The distance traveled during this turn was also 4 nautical miles, with the aircraft positioned at an angle of 169.3° relative to the runway.
The final approach phase began with a turn lasting approximately 357 seconds and covering a distance of 4 nautical miles. As the aircraft descended towards the runway, it aligned itself with the landing threshold and began its final approach to runway 11 from a heading of 110°. The approach altitude was 104 feet above ground level (agl), with a distance of 0 nautical miles from the runway.
Upon completing the final approach, the VL3 landed smoothly on the runway at a speed that was slightly below the target threshold speed of 47 kt, with 41 kt recorded at touchdown. The aircraft touched down after traveling 106m, requiring 35% or 233m of the total runway length to come to a complete stop. The touchdown speed and rate (-176 fpm) were both considered satisfactory.
During the subsequent rollout phase, the aircraft demonstrated excellent runway alignment, suggesting that the landing was completed without any issues. The flight concluded with a total distance of 6 nautical miles and a fuel consumption of 1 kg, having used 12 minutes to complete the journey.
Aircraft VL3 has just completed a successful landing at Haydock Park Airstrip's runway 11, achieving a remarkable 99.3% score. The approach to the runway, which is approximately 660 meters in length, began from a heading of 110.0° at an altitude of 104 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) and a distance of 0 nautical miles from the runway threshold.
The pilot carefully maneuvered the aircraft to ensure a good threshold height, resulting in a relatively low altitude at touchdown. Although the threshold speed was slightly below the targeted speed of 47 knots, it was still within an acceptable range. The touchdown distance, however, was a notable highlight, with the aircraft coming to rest just 106 meters down the runway. This performance is indicative of excellent landing skills and a thorough understanding of aerodynamic forces.
The touchdown speed of 41 knots was also well within the desired range, suggesting that the pilot had made a smooth transition from approach to landing. Furthermore, the touchdown rate, which gauges the aircraft's descent rate, was impressive, clocking in at -176 feet per minute. This is an enviable landing metric, demonstrating the pilot's mastery of the aircraft's descent characteristics.
Local weather conditions appear to have favored the landing, with a relatively calm temperature of 15°C and a gentle wind of 3 knots from a direction of 28°. The near-complete absence of crosswind and headwind components meant that aerodynamic challenges during landing were minimal. As a result, the pilot was able to execute the landing with ease, maintaining excellent runway alignment throughout.
The rollout, an often-overlooked aspect of a successful landing, was also performed commendably, with the VL3 coming to a stop just 233 meters down the runway, a mere 35% of the runway's total length. This demonstrates the pilot's skill in smoothly transitioning from the landing phase to the rollout phase. Overall, the landing was an exemplary display of airmanship and skill, culminating in a remarkably high score of 99.3%.
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