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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the pattern downwind leg
The 45-degrees-behind-the-wing cue assumes you can turn your head and use peripheral vision. Downwind spacing cues like "put the wingtip halfway up the strut" assume a fixed, known eyepoint. Neither survives a monitor unmodified. If you fly on a fixed monitor, stop pretending and fly a numbers-based circuit.
Read more in Pattern WorkStart to finish · 15 stages, 13 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 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 5,000 ft of the approach.
Plan view — the first 5,000 ft of the 5,092 ft runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 1,652 ft past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
This flight took place at KFFZ Falcon Field, where the Learjet 35A took off from runway 04R. Taxiing from the parking area to takeoff position took approximately 2 minutes and covered less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft departed runway 04R, using 2,983 feet of runway, which accounts for 59% of its total length. The takeoff speed reached 136 knots.
During the initial stages of the flight, the aircraft operated in a right-hand traffic pattern around runway 04R. The pattern entry took only 19 seconds to cover less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft maintained a right-hand pattern, with the right crosswind leg taking 13 seconds to traverse less than 1 nautical mile. Upon entering the downwind turn, the aircraft traveled 3 nautical miles at an angle of 26.6 degrees relative to the runway.
Subsequent to the downwind turn, the aircraft descended over the downwind leg at an angle. It eventually aligned itself for a final approach from the north-east, heading 231.0 degrees at 2 nautical miles and 614 feet above ground level. This was a key point in the flight, where the aircraft prepared to touch down on runway 22L, which is a runway 5,092 feet long.
During the landing process, the pilot encountered slightly more challenging conditions, with the threshold speed reaching 137 knots, which is a slight deviation from the target value. Despite this, the touchdown point was 290 feet beyond the designated touchdown zone, albeit at a speed of 129 knots. The touchdown rate was, however, smooth at -128 feet per minute (fpm). On landing, the aircraft's position on the runway slightly deviated by 12 feet from the centerline.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft maintained a very good runway rollout alignment. This marked the end of the flight. Throughout this flight, the Learjet 35A traveled a total of 6 nautical miles, with the entire mission taking approximately 5 minutes. Notably, the aircraft used no fuel during this time. The flight operated in a variety of weather conditions, with temperatures fluctuating between 93 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and wind conditions ranging from 3 to 12 knots at different compass directions.
The Learjet 35A successfully landed on runway 22L at KFFZ Falcon Field, scoring 94.0% in its performance. The aircraft approached the runway from the north east, with a heading of 231.0° at a distance of 2 nautical miles (nm) and an altitude of 614 feet above ground level (agl).
Upon landing, the pilot reported a slightly elevated threshold speed, at 137 knots (kt), compared to the target speed. However, the touchdown point still landed within the limits, 290 feet beyond the designated touchdown zone. Although the touchdown speed at 129 kt was marginally fast, the touchdown rate of -128 feet per minute (fpm) was smooth, suggesting controlled descent.
During the landing, the aircraft exhibited a minor deviation from the runway centerline by 12 feet, which could be considered a minor misalignment. Despite these nuances, the runway rollout alignment was reported to be very good, indicating an effective control of the aircraft during the transition to taxi.
The weather conditions during the landing were relatively calm, with a temperature of 93 °F and a wind speed of 5 kt from a direction of 270°. The resulting crosswind was minimal at 3 kt, while the headwind provided a steady 4 kt of assistance, facilitating the landing process.
Notably, the Learjet 35A consumed a total distance of 4,128 feet during its landing, accounting for 81% of the available runway length of 5,092 feet. This result is within acceptable parameters, demonstrating the pilot's effective control and landing technique. Overall, the landing was deemed successful, with a high score of 94.0%.
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