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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Maintain the centreline
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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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.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,053 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,053 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 121 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 24 at 4N1 Greenwood Lake. The DA40-XLS aircraft accelerated down the runway, covering a distance of 313 meters, which accounted for 30% of the runway's length. The liftoff speed was achieved at 63 knots, marking the start of the takeoff phase.
As the aircraft climbed away from the airport, it encountered local weather conditions with a temperature of 23 degrees Celsius and a gentle headwind of 1 knot from a direction of 216 degrees. The aircraft continued to climb, reaching an altitude of 1,152 feet above sea level, an increase of 232 feet from the initial altitude of 1,384 feet. This climb phase covered a distance of 2 nautical miles and took approximately 4 minutes to complete.
The enroute climb phase concluded as the aircraft approached the town of West Milford in New Jersey, United States. From this point, the aircraft began its final approach to runway 24 at 4N1 Greenwood Lake. The approach was made from the northeast, with the aircraft heading 227.0 degrees and flying at an altitude of 328 feet above ground level, approximately 1 nautical mile from the runway.
The landing phase was executed smoothly, with the aircraft touching down on the runway at a speed of 54 knots. The touchdown distance was 118 meters, which was considered good. The touchdown rate was also smooth, at -110 feet per minute. The runway touchdown alignment was very good, indicating a precise and controlled landing.
Following the landing, the aircraft rolled out on the runway, maintaining a very good alignment. The total landing distance was 393 meters, which accounted for 37% of the runway's length. The aircraft used a total of 4 kilograms of fuel for the flight, which covered a distance of 4 nautical miles and took approximately 9 minutes to complete.
The DA40-XLS aircraft successfully landed at 4N1 Greenwood Lake, demonstrating a high level of proficiency in its pilot. The final approach was conducted from the north-east, aligning with the runway 24 threshold at a height of 328 feet above ground level (agl) and a distance of 1 nautical mile from the runway. The aircraft's heading was 227.0°, indicating a precise approach path.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft's speed was slightly below the target threshold speed of 60 knots, registering at 54 knots. This minor deviation did not impact the overall performance of the landing. The touchdown distance of 118 meters was within acceptable limits, and the touchdown rate of -110 feet per minute (fpm) was smooth, indicating a controlled descent.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 24°C and a gentle headwind of 1 knot from 216°. The crosswind component was negligible, at 0 knots. These conditions contributed to a stable and predictable approach path.
The total landing distance of 393 meters was 37% of the runway length, which is a relatively short distance considering the aircraft's size and weight. This suggests that the pilot executed a precise and controlled approach, resulting in a smooth touchdown and a short rollout distance. The runway rollout alignment was also very good, indicating that the pilot maintained control of the aircraft throughout the landing process.
Overall, this landing demonstrates a high level of skill and proficiency in the pilot, as well as a thorough understanding of the aircraft's performance characteristics and the local weather conditions. The DA40-XLS aircraft performed well, and the landing was executed with precision and control.
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