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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 · 25 stages, 23 scored
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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 1,665 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 383 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight in question was conducted using a FFX P180 aircraft, registration number 03 01. The pre-flight taxiing process from the parking area to the runway took approximately 24 minutes and covered a distance of 4 nautical miles.
Departure from Essex County Airport (KCDW) in Caldwell, New Jersey, involved a runway 04 departure roll, with a takeoff distance of 450 meters, which accounted for 37% of the runway length. The aircraft lifted off at a speed of 98 knots. At the time of departure, the local weather conditions were characterized by a temperature of 26°C, with a wind speed of 2 knots at a direction of 70°.
The enroute climb phase began overhead KCDW, where the aircraft ascended from an altitude of 577 feet above sea level (asl) to 3,003 ft asl, an increase of 2,426 feet, in just 1 minute, covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile.
The enroute level cruise phase started overhead KCDW and lasted for 3 minutes, covering a distance of 11 nautical miles. Subsequent enroute climb phases took place 2 miles west of Ramsey, New Jersey, and 1 mile north of Cromwell, Connecticut, where the aircraft ascended to an altitude of 11,463 ft asl and 11,410 ft asl, respectively.
The enroute level cruise phase resumed overhead Haverstraw, New York, and lasted for 14 minutes, covering a distance of 64 nautical miles. Further enroute descent phases took place 1 mile north of Cromwell, Connecticut, and 8 miles southeast of Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island, where the aircraft descended to an altitude of 4,327 ft asl and 1,665 ft asl, respectively.
The enroute climb phase started 6 miles southeast of Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island, and 2 miles north of Canapitsit Airport, Gosnold, Massachusetts, where the aircraft ascended to an altitude of 4,140 ft asl and 4,249 ft asl, respectively.
The final approach to runway 06 at Martha's Vineyard Airport (KMVY) was conducted from the southwest, with a heading of 41.0°, at an altitude of 709 feet above ground level (agl) and 2 nautical miles from the runway threshold.
The landing on runway 06 at KMVY was successful, with a touchdown distance of 382 meters, a touchdown speed of 84 knots, and a touchdown rate of -154 feet per minute (fpm). The runway touchdown alignment was very good, and the local weather conditions were characterized by a temperature of 25°C, with a wind speed of 3 knots at a direction of 90°.
The total landing distance was 531 meters, which accounted for 32% of the runway length. The runway rollout alignment was also very good. The post-landing taxiing process from the runway to the parking area took approximately 2 minutes and covered a distance of less than 1 nautical mile.
The total flight distance was 198 nautical miles, with a total flight time of 67 minutes, and the aircraft used 474 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The aircraft, identified as FFX P180 03 01, successfully landed at Martha's Vineyard Airport (KMVY) with a score of 96.7%. The final approach to runway 06 was initiated from the southwest, with a heading of 41.0° at an altitude of 709 feet above ground level (agl) and 2 nautical miles from the runway.
The pilot executed a precise landing, with a threshold height that was considered good. The threshold speed of 92 knots was well below the target, indicating a controlled approach. However, the pilot was cautioned to avoid stalling, as the speed was relatively low.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft performed well, with a touchdown distance of 382 meters, which was considered good. The touchdown speed of 84 knots was also within acceptable limits, and the touchdown rate of -154 feet per minute (fpm) was good, indicating a smooth and controlled descent.
The runway touchdown alignment was very good, indicating that the pilot had maintained a stable and aligned approach. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were favorable, with a temperature of 25°C and a wind speed of 3 knots from a direction of 90°. The crosswind and headwind components were both 2 knots, which was relatively minimal.
The total landing distance of 531 meters was 32% of the runway length, which was considered acceptable. The runway rollout alignment was also very good, indicating that the pilot had maintained control and stability during the rollout phase. Overall, the landing was considered successful, with the pilot demonstrating good control and precision throughout the approach and landing phases.
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