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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 · 25 stages, 23 scored
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The threshold, the flare and the hold-off. The approach that led to it is the stabilisation gates below.
Two stabilised approach gates, each with seven checks, where the approach path is 1,000 ft and 500 ft above the runway.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,059 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,059 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 228 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with a Bonanza G36 aircraft taxiing from the parking area to the runway at EGAC George Best Belfast City Airport, taking approximately 2 minutes to cover less than 1 nautical mile. The departure roll took place on runway 04, with a takeoff distance of 628 meters, which accounted for 36% of the runway. The aircraft lifted off at a speed of 97 knots.
As the aircraft climbed to a higher altitude, it encountered local weather conditions of 3°C temperature and a 4-knot tailwind. The enroute climb started 1 mile west of Holywood, Northern Ireland, where the aircraft ascended from 1,026 feet above sea level to 7,211 feet, an increase of 6,185 feet in 10 minutes, covering a distance of 26 nautical miles.
The aircraft then entered a level cruise phase, starting 3 miles west of Portpatrick, Scotland, and lasting 2 minutes, covering 4 nautical miles. Another enroute climb began 3 miles west of Stranraer, Scotland, where the aircraft climbed from 7,828 feet to 12,137 feet, an increase of 4,310 feet in 9 minutes, covering 21 nautical miles.
The aircraft continued its level cruise phase, starting overhead Girvan, Scotland, and lasting 3 minutes, covering 8 nautical miles. Another enroute climb started 2 miles west of Maybole, Scotland, where the aircraft climbed from 13,205 feet to 14,413 feet, an increase of 1,208 feet in 3 minutes, covering 7 nautical miles.
The aircraft then entered a prolonged level cruise phase, starting overhead Ayr, Scotland, and lasting 87 minutes, covering 233 nautical miles. As the aircraft approached its destination, it began its descent, starting 34 miles south of EGEF Fair Isle Airport, Fair Isle, Scotland, where it descended from 16,005 feet to 4,215 feet, a decrease of 11,790 feet in 16 minutes, covering 43 nautical miles.
The aircraft then entered another level cruise phase, starting 12 miles northeast of EGEF Fair Isle Airport, and lasting 3 minutes, covering 10 nautical miles. Another descent began 5 miles southwest of EGPB Sumburgh Airport, Lerwick, Scotland, where the aircraft descended from 3,981 feet to 2,479 feet, a decrease of 1,502 feet in 2 minutes, covering 5 nautical miles.
The aircraft then entered another level cruise phase, starting 7 miles west of EGPB Sumburgh Airport, and lasting 6 minutes, covering 4 nautical miles. The final approach to runway 15 at EGPB Sumburgh Airport took place from the northwest, with a heading of 143.0° at 4 nautical miles and 1,647 feet above ground level.
The landing on runway 15 was successful, with a touchdown distance of 228 meters, which was 27% of the runway length. The touchdown speed was 72 knots, and the touchdown rate was excellent at -74 feet per minute. The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 3.2 meters from the centerline. Local weather conditions at the time of landing were 2°C temperature and a 27-knot headwind.
The total landing distance was 287 meters, and the runway rollout alignment was very good. Taxiing to the parking area from the runway took approximately 1 minute, covering less than 1 nautical mile. The total flight distance was 366 nautical miles, taking 148 minutes, and the aircraft used 86 kilograms of fuel.
The Bonanza G36 aircraft successfully landed at EGPB Sumburgh Airport, achieving a score of 99.7%. The final approach was conducted from the north-west, heading 143.0° at a distance of 4 nautical miles and an altitude of 1,647 feet above ground level (agl). The aircraft touched down on runway 15, which has a length of 1,059 meters.
The threshold height was satisfactory, and the threshold speed was above the target at 92 knots. This indicates that the pilot had sufficient control over the aircraft's descent and speed during the final approach. The touchdown distance of 228 meters was also within acceptable limits, demonstrating the pilot's ability to manage the aircraft's speed and altitude during the landing.
The touchdown speed of 72 knots was good, and the touchdown rate of -74 feet per minute (fpm) was excellent. This suggests that the pilot had a high degree of control over the aircraft's descent and was able to achieve a smooth touchdown. However, the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 3.2 meters from the centerline, which may indicate a slight deviation from the intended landing path.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were characterized by a temperature of 2°C and a wind speed of 27 knots from a direction of 140°. This resulted in a crosswind of 2 knots and a headwind of 27 knots, which the pilot successfully managed during the landing. The total landing distance of 287 meters was 27% of the runway length, indicating that the pilot had sufficient control over the aircraft's speed and altitude during the landing.
The runway rollout alignment was very good, demonstrating the pilot's ability to maintain control of the aircraft during the post-landing phase. Overall, the landing was successful, and the pilot demonstrated a high degree of skill and control throughout the final approach and landing.
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