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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 · 12 stages, 11 scored
Events
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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 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 1,668 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 284 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
Taxiing from the parking area to the runway at I74 Grimes took a brief 1 minute, covering less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft then began its departure roll on runway 20, accelerating to a liftoff speed of 66 knots. The takeoff distance of 717 meters accounted for 54% of the available runway length. Local weather conditions at the time of departure featured a temperature of 29°C, with a 10-knot headwind from 214° and a crosswind of 3 knots.
As the aircraft climbed away from I74 Grimes, it transitioned into an enroute climb phase, commencing overhead Urbana, Ohio. The climb from 2,039 feet above sea level to 3,417 feet above sea level, an increase of 1,378 feet, was achieved in just 1 minute, covering a distance of 3 nautical miles. Following this, the aircraft entered a level cruise phase, lasting 2 minutes and covering 5 nautical miles, 1 mile north-east of Gainer Tremont City. The enroute descent phase began 2 miles north of Springfield, Ohio, where the aircraft descended from 3,684 feet above sea level to 1,485 feet above sea level, a decrease of 2,199 feet, in 3 minutes, covering 8 nautical miles.
The final approach to runway 15 at KSGH Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport was initiated from the north-west, with the aircraft heading 145.0° at 1 nautical mile and 427 feet above ground level. The landing on runway 15, with a length of 1,668 meters, was characterized by a good threshold height. However, the threshold speed was slightly high at 86 knots. The touchdown distance of 283 meters was deemed good, with a touchdown speed of 64 knots and a perfect touchdown rate of -42 feet per minute. The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 4.8 meters from the centreline. Local weather conditions at the time of landing featured a temperature of 30°C, with a 13-knot headwind from 199° and a crosswind of 11 knots. The total flight distance of 18 nautical miles was achieved in 8 minutes, with a fuel consumption of 9 kilograms.
The aircraft touched down on runway 15 at KSGH Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport with a good threshold height, allowing for a smooth transition from the approach to the touchdown phase. However, the threshold speed was slightly above the desired level, reaching 86 kt, which may have been due to the aircraft's approach configuration or the pilot's decision to maintain a higher speed for the landing.
The touchdown distance of 283 m was within the acceptable range, indicating that the pilot had maintained control of the aircraft's descent and had made the necessary adjustments to ensure a safe and stable touchdown. The touchdown speed of 64 kt was also within the desired parameters, and the touchdown rate of -42 fpm was perfect, demonstrating the pilot's ability to manage the aircraft's energy and maintain a stable approach.
Despite a good overall performance, the aircraft's runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned from the centreline by 4.8 m, which may have been due to a slight deviation in the approach or a miscalculation of the wind conditions. The local weather conditions, with a temperature of 30 °C and a wind of 13 kt at 199 °, may have also played a role in the slight misalignment. Overall, the pilot's performance earned a score of 94.0%, reflecting a high level of proficiency and control during the approach and landing phases.
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