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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 · 15 stages, 13 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 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 1,519 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,519 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 232 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with the AT802 Firefighting aircraft taxiing from the parking to the runway at KNEL Lakehurst Maxfield Field Airport. This process took 4 minutes and covered a distance of less than 1 nautical mile.
With the runway clear, the aircraft departed from runway 06 at a speed of 75 kt, reaching lift-off in a takeoff distance of 258 meters, which accounts for 17% of the runway's total length. The local weather conditions were moderate, with a temperature of 16 °C and wind blowing at 3 kt from a direction of 47°.
After takeoff, the aircraft entered a left-hand pattern, flying over a distance of less than 1 nm and completing a 117-second turn. It then entered crosswind from runway 06 at KNEL Lakehurst Maxfield Field Airport, covering a mere 23 seconds over a distance of less than 1 nm.
The pilot next navigated through the pattern, flying downwind. This part of the flight covered a distance of 2 nautical miles, with the aircraft turning at an angle of 51.7° relative to the runway to align for landing.
Following the downwind leg, the aircraft transitioned to its final approach on runway 06 at KNEL Lakehurst Maxfield Field Airport. With the runway threshold in view, the aircraft approached from the southwest at a heading of 49.0° and an altitude of 87 ft above ground level.
At touchdown, the aircraft landed smoothly on the runway, with a threshold speed slightly above the target at 73 kt. The landing distance of 229 m was considered good, with a touchdown speed of 60 kt being within the acceptable range. However, the touchdown rate was a bit higher than desired at -246 fpm.
After landing safely, the aircraft taxied back to the parking lot, again covering less than 1 nautical mile in 4 minutes. Overall, the aircraft completed a total flight distance of 6 nautical miles in 14 minutes while utilizing 24 kg of fuel.
The reported incident involves an aircraft landing at Lakehurst Maxfield Field Airport (KNEL), with the aircraft making a successful touchdown on runway 06. The aircraft, an AT802 Firefighting aircraft, demonstrated exceptional control during its final approach, with a heading of 49.0° and flying at an altitude of 87 feet above ground level (agl) and 0 nautical miles (nm) from the runway.
Upon initial assessments, it appears that the pilot successfully managed the aircraft's descent, given the runway's length of 1,519 meters. The threshold height was found to be within acceptable parameters, with the threshold speed slightly above the target at 73 knots. This minor discrepancy is likely due to minor adjustments made by the pilot during the final approach to ensure a safe and smooth landing.
The reported touchdown speed of 60 knots is considered good, indicating the pilot's skill in controlling the aircraft's descent and maintaining a consistent speed during the final stages of the approach. However, the touchdown rate of -246 feet per minute (fpm) falls into the "fair" category, suggesting a slight increase in descent rate during the touchdown. This minor deviation from optimal standards is not considered a significant concern, given the overall success of the landing.
The aircraft's rollout alignment along the runway was exceptional, with a perfect alignment observed. This demonstrates the pilot's expertise in controlling the aircraft's speed and direction after touchdown, ensuring a safe and controlled rollout.
Local weather conditions at the time of the landing were benign, with a temperature of 15 °C (59 °F) and a headwind of 3 knots at 48°. The absence of crosswind significantly facilitated the pilot's task, and the resulting landing distance of 343 meters, or 23% of the runway, is considered acceptable given the aircraft's size and the conditions present. Overall, the landing at Lakehurst Maxfield Field Airport was deemed safe, controlled, and performed at a high standard.
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