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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Departure
Ease the nose up sooner to lift off at 70 kt instead of letting speed build on the ground.
What happened: The aircraft lifted off at 87 kt, 17 kt above the target liftoff speed.
Watch for: Airspeed indicator: 70 kt at liftoff
See Departure Roll
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 in the score
Events
Events
Events
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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: six 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 330 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with a departure roll from runway 23 at EGPE Inverness Airport, where the DA50 aircraft took off with a takeoff distance of 499 meters, which accounted for 27% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 87 knots. At the time of takeoff, the local weather conditions were characterized by a temperature of 16 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 2 knots at 270 degrees, resulting in a crosswind of 1 knot and a headwind of 2 knots.
After taking off, the aircraft entered a left-hand pattern, which it completed in a remarkably efficient manner. The entry into the pattern from runway 23 took less than 1 nautical mile in 21 seconds, and the crosswind turn took less than 1 nautical mile in 19 seconds. The downwind turn was completed at an angle of 68.6 degrees to the runway, covering a distance of 1 nautical mile. The downwind leg itself took 61 seconds to cover a distance of 2 nautical miles.
As the aircraft approached the base leg, it turned at an angle of 44.3 degrees to the runway, covering a distance of 2 nautical miles. The base leg itself took less than 1 nautical mile in 23 seconds to complete. The final turn into the runway took less than 1 nautical mile in 27 seconds. The aircraft then began its final approach to runway 23 from the north-east, heading 233.0 degrees at 1 nautical mile and 198 feet above ground level.
The landing itself was smooth and controlled, with a threshold speed of 76 knots and a touchdown speed of 64 knots. The touchdown distance was 329 meters, which was 30% of the runway length. The touchdown rate was an excellent -73 feet per minute, and the runway touchdown alignment was perfect. The local weather conditions remained the same, with a temperature of 16 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 2 knots at 270 degrees.
After landing, the aircraft rolled out of the runway in perfect alignment, with a total landing distance of 547 meters. The total flight distance was 8 nautical miles, which was completed in 5 minutes, and the aircraft used no fuel during the flight. Overall, the flight was characterized by smooth and efficient operations, with a high degree of control and precision throughout.
The DA50 aircraft successfully landed at EGPE Inverness Airport, achieving a high score of 98.6%. The final approach was conducted from the north-east, heading 233.0° at 1 nautical mile and 198 feet above ground level (agl). The aircraft demonstrated excellent control and precision during the approach, ultimately landing on runway 23.
The runway at EGPE Inverness Airport has a length of 1,814 meters, providing a safe margin for the DA50's landing. The threshold height was good, indicating that the aircraft was at the correct altitude when approaching the runway. The threshold speed of 76 knots was also satisfactory, demonstrating the pilot's ability to manage the aircraft's speed during the approach.
The touchdown distance of 329 meters was within acceptable limits, and the touchdown speed of 64 knots was also good. However, it was the touchdown rate that truly stood out, with an excellent rate of -73 feet per minute (fpm). This indicates that the aircraft touched down smoothly and with minimal impact, reducing the risk of damage to the aircraft and its occupants.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 16°C and a gentle wind of 2 knots from 270°. The crosswind component was minimal at 1 knot, while the headwind component was 2 knots, providing a stable and predictable environment for the landing.
The total landing distance of 547 meters was only 30% of the runway length, demonstrating the aircraft's ability to stop quickly and efficiently. The runway rollout alignment was also perfect, indicating that the pilot maintained control of the aircraft during the rollout phase, ensuring a safe and stable stop.
Overall, the DA50's landing at EGPE Inverness Airport was a textbook example of precision and control, with the aircraft demonstrating excellent performance and handling characteristics. The high score of 98.6% reflects the pilot's skill and expertise, as well as the aircraft's capabilities.
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