Events
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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 · 13 stages, 12 scored
Events
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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.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,717 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,717 m of the 2,737 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 735 m past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight in question was conducted in a Black Square Starship, registered as N45FL. The aircraft taxied from the parking area to the runway, a distance of less than 1 nautical mile, in under a minute. The departure roll took place on runway 30 at EGPK Glasgow Prestwick Airport, with a takeoff distance of 1,794 meters, which accounted for 66% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 142 knots.
The local weather conditions at the time of takeoff were characterized by a temperature of 18 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 1 knot from a direction of 269 degrees. This resulted in a negligible crosswind and headwind. Following takeoff, the aircraft entered a left-hand pattern from runway 30, covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile in 133 seconds. The subsequent left-hand pattern crosswind leg was completed in just 14 seconds, with a distance of less than 1 nautical mile.
The aircraft then proceeded to the downwind turn, which covered a distance of 3 nautical miles at an angle of 45 degrees to the runway. The final approach was made to runway 12 at EGPK Glasgow Prestwick Airport, with the aircraft approaching from the north-west at a heading of 117 degrees and an altitude of 517 feet above ground level, approximately 1 nautical mile from the runway.
The landing on runway 12 was successful, with the touchdown point located 305 meters beyond the touchdown zone. The touchdown speed was 92 knots, which was within the acceptable range, and the touchdown rate was perfect at -34 feet per minute. However, the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned from the centerline by 3.1 meters.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 16 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 1 knot from a direction of 270 degrees, resulting in a negligible crosswind and tailwind. The total landing distance was 1,622 meters, which accounted for 59% of the runway. The runway rollout alignment was perfect, indicating a smooth and controlled descent.
The total flight distance was 8 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 7 minutes. The aircraft used 8 kilograms of fuel during the flight. Overall, the flight was conducted with precision and control, with the aircraft performing well in the given weather conditions.
The aircraft, Black Square Starship N45FL, successfully landed at EGPK Glasgow Prestwick Airport, achieving a high score of 96.9%. The final approach to runway 12 was initiated from the north-west, with a heading of 117.0° at 1 nautical mile and 517 feet above ground level (agl). The aircraft's approach was characterized by a good threshold height, indicating a well-executed descent.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft's threshold speed was slightly above the target speed of 115 kt, registering at 116 kt. This minor deviation from the target speed did not significantly impact the overall performance of the landing. The touchdown point was located 305 meters beyond the designated touchdown zone, which is a relatively minor deviation. The touchdown speed of 92 kt was within the acceptable range, and the touchdown rate of -34 feet per minute (fpm) was perfect, indicating a smooth and controlled descent.
The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 3.1 meters from the centerline, which may require some adjustments to the aircraft's alignment during future approaches. However, this deviation did not significantly impact the overall performance of the landing. The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 16°C and a wind speed of 1 kt at 270°. The crosswind and tailwind components were both minimal, at 1 kt each, which contributed to a stable and controlled approach.
The total landing distance of 1,622 meters was 59% of the runway length, indicating a relatively short landing distance. The runway rollout alignment was perfect, demonstrating the pilot's ability to maintain control and stability during the landing roll. Overall, the landing was executed well, with only minor deviations from the target parameters.
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