Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the pattern base leg turn
Bank angle in the pattern is conventionally kept to 20 to 30 degrees, and the base-to-final turn is where that convention earns its keep. Stall speed rises with bank because the wing must produce more lift in a turn. Roughly 7 per cent higher at 30 degrees, about 19 per cent at 45, and around 40 per cent at 60. At 65 kt on base you don't have much margin to spend steepening a turn to salvage an overshoot.
Read more in Pattern WorkStart to finish · 15 stages, 13 in the score
Events
Events
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 for a circuit: seven checks where the approach path is 300 ft above the runway. The 1,000 ft gate is an instrument-approach check and does not apply.
At the 300 ft gate: off the centreline and wings not level.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 1,814 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 460 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with the aircraft, a GA-8 Airvan Commuter Cargopod, taxiing from the parking area to the runway at EGPE Inverness Airport. This process took less than a minute and covered a distance of less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft then began its departure roll from runway 05, with a takeoff distance of 391 meters, which accounted for 22% of the runway's total length. The liftoff speed was 85 knots.
As the aircraft took to the skies, it encountered local weather conditions with a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 0 knots at 330 degrees. There was no crosswind or headwind to contend with. The aircraft then entered a left-hand pattern from runway 05, covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile in just 20 seconds. The subsequent left-hand pattern crosswind leg took 32 seconds to complete, also covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile.
The aircraft then began its pattern downwind turn, which involved a 45-degree angle to the runway and a distance of 1 nautical mile. This was followed by the downwind leg, which covered a distance of 2 nautical miles in 76 seconds. The base leg turn then took place, with the aircraft turning at a 45-degree angle to the runway and covering a distance of 1 nautical mile. The final approach to runway 05 was made from the southwest, with the aircraft heading at 48.0 degrees and flying at an altitude of 358 feet above ground level (agl) and a distance of 1 nautical mile from the runway.
The landing on runway 05 was smooth, with a touchdown distance of 458 meters and a touchdown speed of 47 knots. The touchdown rate was also smooth, at -142 feet per minute (fpm). The runway touchdown alignment was perfect, and the local weather conditions remained the same, with a temperature of 9 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 0 knots at 330 degrees. The total landing distance was 625 meters, which accounted for 34% of the runway's total length. The runway rollout alignment was also perfect.
The total flight distance was 6 nautical miles, and the flight took 9 minutes to complete. The aircraft used a total of -77 kilograms of fuel during the flight. Overall, the flight was a successful one, with the aircraft performing well in terms of takeoff, landing, and overall flight distance and duration.
The GA-8 Airvan Commuter Cargopod successfully landed at EGPE Inverness Airport, achieving a high score of 97.5%. The aircraft approached the runway from the southwest, heading 48.0° at 1 nautical mile and 358 feet above ground level (agl). This indicates a precise and controlled descent, setting the stage for a smooth landing.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft performed well, with a touchdown speed of 47 knots and a smooth touchdown rate of -142 feet per minute (fpm). The runway touchdown alignment was perfect, demonstrating the pilot's skill and attention to detail. The threshold speed of 73 knots was also met, further indicating a well-executed landing.
The landing distance of 458 meters was good, and the aircraft came to rest at 34% of the runway length, which is 625 meters. This suggests that the pilot had sufficient control over the aircraft's descent and touchdown, allowing for a safe and efficient landing. The runway rollout alignment was also perfect, indicating that the pilot maintained control of the aircraft during the rollout phase.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 9°C and a wind speed of 0 knots from 330°. This meant that there was no crosswind or headwind to contend with, making the landing even more straightforward. Overall, the landing was a success, with the aircraft performing well and the pilot demonstrating excellent skills and control.
Scroll or drag the slider to zoom · double-click to reset · hover for values