Events
Events
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 · 11 stages, 9 scored
Events
Events
Events
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.
wheel landing
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 1,786 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 612 m past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
Departing from Cotswold Airport, Kemble, Gloucestershire, England, the Cessna C195 began its takeoff roll on runway 26. The aircraft accelerated to a liftoff speed of 83 kt, achieving lift-off in a distance of 542 m, which accounted for 33% of the available runway length. The local weather conditions at the time were characterized by a temperature of 16 °C and a light headwind of 1 kt from a direction of 270°.
As the aircraft transitioned into the enroute climb phase, it began to ascend from an initial altitude of 736 ft above sea level to 926 ft asl, a gain of 190 ft in less than 1 minute and covering a distance of less than 1 nm. The climb was initiated overhead the departure airport, marking the beginning of the aircraft's journey. Later, the enroute descent phase commenced, with the aircraft descending from 946 ft asl to 431 ft asl, a decrease of 515 ft in 2 minutes and covering a distance of 3 nm. The descent was also initiated overhead the departure airport, bringing the aircraft back to a lower altitude.
Upon approaching the runway for landing, the aircraft initiated a go-around at an altitude of 11 ft above ground level. Subsequently, the aircraft landed on runway 26, with a touchdown point located 125 m beyond the touchdown zone. The touchdown speed of 63 kt was within acceptable limits, and the touchdown rate of 4 fpm was considered perfect. However, the runway rollout alignment was slightly misaligned by 7.6 m from the centreline. The total landing distance of 1,023 m accounted for 63% of the available runway length. The aircraft used a total of 2 kg of fuel for the flight, which covered a distance of 6 nm and took approximately 4 minutes to complete.
The approach to runway 26 at EGBP Cotswold Airport was executed with good quality, with the aircraft maintaining a stable and controlled descent throughout. The threshold height was satisfactory, allowing for a smooth transition to the flare phase. However, the threshold speed was slightly above the desired level, reaching 84 kt, which may have contributed to a slightly longer than ideal landing distance.
As the aircraft touched down 125 m beyond the touchdown zone, the touchdown speed of 63 kt was within the acceptable range, and the touchdown rate of 4 fpm was perfect, indicating a controlled and gentle touchdown. The runway touchdown alignment was spot on, with the aircraft perfectly aligned with the centreline. The local weather conditions, with a temperature of 15 °C and a light headwind of 1 kt, were favorable for the landing.
The rollout phase was largely successful, with the aircraft maintaining a stable and controlled deceleration. However, the runway rollout alignment was slightly misaligned by 7.6 m from the centreline, which may have been due to a slight deviation in the aircraft's direction during the rollout phase. Despite this minor deviation, the total landing distance of 1,023 m, which accounted for 63% of the runway length, was within acceptable limits. Overall, the landing was scored 93.5%, reflecting a good performance with some minor areas for improvement.
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