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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 · 12 stages, 10 scored
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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. These checks are the approach's score.
The approach, gate by gate
The rest of the report
The Eurofighter Typhoon taxied from its parking position to runway 01 at KJAC Jackson Hole Airport in eight minutes, covering less than 1 nm while taxiing.
During the departure roll on runway 01, the aircraft used 892 m of runway, representing 46 % of the available length, and lifted off at 212 kt. Ambient conditions were 4 °C with a wind of 2 kt from 44°, including a 1 kt cross-wind and a 2 kt head-wind.
Climb commenced one mile north of KJAC, with the jet accelerating from 7,047 ft asl to 7,331 ft asl, an altitude gain of 284 ft achieved in two minutes while covering 19 nm.
The descent phase began at 1,903 ft agl and proceeded to 66 ft agl in 59 seconds, meeting the required profile for the final approach.
On final approach to runway 01, the aircraft satisfied the stabilisation gates, confirming compliance with the approach criteria.
Landing was executed on runway 01, which is 1,921 m long. The threshold speed was recorded at an excessively high 174 kt, and touchdown occurred 126 m beyond the touchdown zone at a speed of 146 kt. The touchdown rate was minus 510 fpm and the aircraft was laterally offset by 4.3 m from the centreline. Weather at the time mirrored the departure conditions: 4 °C, wind 2 kt from 45°, with a 1 kt cross-wind and a 2 kt head-wind.
Rollout covered a total landing distance of 1,212 m, equivalent to 63 % of the runway, and alignment during the rollout was reported as very good.
In total, the flight covered 26 nm, took eight minutes, and consumed 515 kg of fuel.
The Eurofighter Typhoon’s final approach to runway 01 at KJAC was assessed as unstable at the 1,000 ft gate; the gear was not down, the sink rate was too high, the aircraft was off the glideslope and off the centreline, and it was more than 20 kt above VREF. Descent was recorded from 1,903 ft AGL to 66 ft AGL in 59 seconds while temperature was 4 °C and wind was 2 kt from 045° with a 1 kt cross-component and a 2 kt headwind component.
At the threshold the aircraft entered with an excessively high speed of 174 kt and touched down 126 m beyond the designated touchdown zone, indicating a flare that did not arrest forward momentum within the intended zone.
Touchdown occurred at a speed of 146 kt and a very hard vertical rate of minus 510 fpm. The wheel track was offset 4.3 m from the centreline, and the aircraft required a total landing distance of 1,212 m, representing 63 % of the 1,921 m runway length.
Rollout alignment was reported as very good, with the aircraft remaining on the centreline throughout the deceleration phase.
Future flights should ensure gear is lowered before the 1,000 ft gate and that approach speed is reduced to within VREF to avoid excessive touchdown speed. Managing sink rate and maintaining the glideslope and centreline will also help achieve a smoother flare and reduce hard-landing forces.
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