Events
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 · 16 stages, 14 scored
Events
One stabilised approach gate for a circuit: 3 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. These checks are the approach's score.
Sideslipping at the lower gate - wing down, opposite rudder. That is a technique for losing height without gaining speed, so the sink rate, the glideslope and wings level are not asked there: they are what the slip is for. The other checks are marked as usual.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 906 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 906 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 140 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The Taylorcraft BC-12D taxied to runway 22 at EGHN Isle of Wight / Sandown Airport and commenced the departure roll. The aircraft accelerated over a takeoff distance of 330 m, representing 36 % of the runway, and lifted off at 60 kt. Ambient conditions were 16 °C with a wind of 2 kt from 270°, including a 1 kt cross-wind component and a 1 kt head-wind component.
During the right-hand pattern entry the aircraft covered less than 1 nm in 32 seconds, followed by a right-hand cross-wind segment of less than 1 nm in 12 seconds. The downwind turn spanned 1 nm at an angle of 61.0°, after which the downwind leg extended 2 nm in 90 seconds. The base-leg turn covered 1 nm at an angle of 34.9°, the base leg itself was less than 1 nm in 23 seconds, and the final turn was completed in less than 1 nm in 27 seconds, positioning the aircraft for the final approach.
Landing was executed on runway 22, whose length is 906 m. The threshold speed was recorded at 45 kt and the aircraft touched down 137 m from the runway threshold at a speed of 37 kt, which was noted as fast. The touchdown rate was excellent at minus 96 fpm, though the touchdown point was misaligned by 10.5 m from the centreline. Weather at the time was 15 °C with a wind of 2 kt from 270°, comprising a 1 kt cross-wind and a 1 kt head-wind. The total landing distance measured 328 m, equal to 36 % of the runway.
After touchdown the aircraft rolled out with a slight lateral deviation, the runway rollout alignment being off by 11.5 m from the centreline.
In summary, the flight covered a total distance of 4 nm, taking 5, and used 0 kg of fuel.
The aircraft crossed the runway threshold at a good height and a good speed of 45 kt.
Touchdown occurred 137 m down the runway with a speed of 37 kt, which was fast, and a vertical rate of -96 fpm, rated excellent. The touchdown point was misaligned by 10.5 m from the centreline, and the total landing distance measured 328 m, representing 36 % of the 906 m runway.
During rollout the aircraft remained slightly misaligned, deviating 11.5 m from the centreline.
Improve centreline tracking to reduce the 10-plus-metre offset observed at touchdown and during rollout, while maintaining the current aim point and speed control. The 91.8 % score indicates overall strong performance with only minor alignment refinements needed.
Scroll or drag the slider to zoom · double-click to reset · hover for values