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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the takeoff
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 · 17 stages, 15 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.
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 1,996 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 346 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with a taxiing period from the parking area to the runway, which took approximately 3 minutes and covered less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft, a DA42-TDI, then departed from runway 28 at KCDW Essex County Airport. The takeoff distance was 436 meters, which accounted for 53% of the runway length. The liftoff speed was 73 knots, and the local weather conditions at the time of departure were characterized by a temperature of 16°C, a wind speed of 1 knot from 270°, with no crosswind and a headwind of 1 knot.
Following the departure, the aircraft entered a level cruise phase, which started overhead Fairfield, New Jersey, and lasted for approximately 1 minute, covering less than 1 nautical mile. The enroute climb phase began overhead Fairfield, during which the aircraft ascended from an altitude of 762 feet above sea level to 3,080 feet above sea level, an increase of 2,319 feet, in 4 minutes and covering 2 nautical miles.
The aircraft then entered another level cruise phase, which started overhead Singac, New Jersey, and lasted for 17 minutes, covering 28 nautical miles. The final approach to runway 34 at KHPN Westchester County Airport was initiated from the southeast, with a heading of 330.0° at a distance of 4 nautical miles and an altitude of 1,238 feet above ground level.
The landing on runway 34 was successful, with a touchdown distance of 346 meters, which was 27% of the runway length. The touchdown speed was 68 knots, which was within the acceptable range. However, the touchdown rate was fair at -267 feet per minute. The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned from the centerline by 3.4 meters. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 15°C, a wind speed of 1 knot from 270°, with a crosswind of 1 knot and a headwind of 1 knot.
The total landing distance was 542 meters, and the runway rollout alignment was very good. The taxiing period from the runway to the parking area took approximately 3 minutes and covered less than 1 nautical mile. The total flight distance was 36 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 29 minutes, during which the aircraft used 17 kilograms of fuel.
The DA42-TDI aircraft successfully landed at KHPN Westchester County Airport, achieving a score of 93.8%. The final approach was conducted from the southeast, heading 330.0° at 4 nautical miles and 1,238 feet above ground level (agl). The aircraft touched down on runway 34, which has a length of 1,996 meters.
The threshold height at 64 feet agl was above the target, indicating that the aircraft was slightly higher than desired at the point of touchdown. However, the threshold speed was slightly below the target at 75 knots, suggesting that the aircraft was slowing down slightly too quickly. The touchdown distance of 346 meters was considered good, and the touchdown speed of 68 knots was also within acceptable limits.
Despite a fair touchdown rate of -267 feet per minute (fpm), the aircraft's performance during the landing was generally satisfactory. However, the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 3.4 meters from the centerline, which may require some adjustments to the aircraft's approach path.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were relatively calm, with a temperature of 15°C and a wind speed of 1 knot from 270°. The crosswind and headwind components were both 1 knot, which had a minimal impact on the aircraft's performance.
The total landing distance of 542 meters was 27% of the runway length, indicating that the aircraft was able to stop within a reasonable distance. The runway rollout alignment was very good, suggesting that the aircraft's brakes were applied smoothly and effectively.
Overall, the landing was considered successful, with the aircraft achieving a high score and demonstrating good control and stability during the approach and touchdown phases.
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