Events
Events
Events
Events
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 · 11 stages, 10 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: 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.
At the 500 ft gate: no landing flap set and off the runway's 3° glideslope.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 2,150 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 96 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The 1.03 G arrival is the firm side of smooth.
The rest of the report
Taxiing from the parking area to the runway at KANW Ainsworth Regional Airport took approximately 6 minutes, covering a distance of 1 nautical mile. The aircraft, a Piper Aerostar 600 registered as NI22PC, then began its departure roll on runway 35. The takeoff distance of 336 meters accounted for 16% of the runway's total length, and the aircraft lifted off at a speed of 72 knots. The local weather conditions at the time of departure featured a temperature of 16°C, with a wind speed of 8 knots from a direction of 339°. This resulted in a 3-knot crosswind and an 8-knot headwind.
As the aircraft climbed away from KANW, it began its enroute climb, transitioning from a ground elevation of 3,502 feet above sea level to 3,347 feet above sea level, an increase of 154 feet over a distance of 5 nautical miles in 2 minutes. The climb was initiated overhead the airport, marking the beginning of the aircraft's journey. The final approach to runway 35 was conducted from the south, with the aircraft maintaining a heading of 360.0° at an altitude of 747 feet above ground level and a distance of 1 nautical mile from the runway threshold.
The landing on runway 35 was executed with a threshold speed slightly below the target of 78 knots, at 71 knots. The touchdown distance of 75 meters was within acceptable limits, and the touchdown speed was also good at 71 knots. However, the touchdown rate was somewhat hard at -421 feet per minute. The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned from the centerline by 4.7 meters. The local weather conditions remained consistent with the departure, featuring a temperature of 16°C and a wind speed of 8 knots from a direction of 339°, resulting in a 3-knot crosswind and an 8-knot headwind. The total flight distance was 8 nautical miles, and the aircraft used 7 kilograms of fuel during the flight, which lasted approximately 7 minutes.
The aircraft, NI22PC, initiated its final approach to runway 35 at KANW Ainsworth Regional Airport from the south, aligning with the runway heading of 360.0° at 1 nautical mile and 747 feet above ground level. The approach quality was satisfactory, with a good threshold height achieved. However, the threshold speed was slightly below the target, registering at 78 knots.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft demonstrated a good touchdown distance of 75 meters, with a corresponding touchdown speed of 71 knots. Although the touchdown rate was somewhat hard at -421 feet per minute, the overall touchdown characteristics were acceptable. Unfortunately, the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned from the centreline by 4.7 meters, which may have been due to the prevailing wind conditions. The local weather at the time of landing featured a temperature of 16°C, with a gentle wind of 8 knots from 339°, resulting in a 3-knot crosswind and an 8-knot headwind.
The aircraft's performance during the rollout phase was satisfactory, with the pilot successfully bringing the aircraft to a stop within a reasonable distance. Overall, the landing was scored at 94.8%, reflecting a good but not exceptional performance. The slight misalignment from the centreline and the hard touchdown rate were the primary factors contributing to the lower score.
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