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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 · 23 stages, 21 scored
Events
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Two stabilised approach gates, each with six checks at 1,000 ft and 500 ft above the runway.
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 2,498 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 233 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with a taxiing period from the parking to the runway, which took 7 minutes and covered a distance of 2 nautical miles. The aircraft, a Pilatus PC-6, then departed from runway 27 at LDPL Pula Airport, with a takeoff distance of 599 meters, which accounted for 20% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 82 knots.
As the aircraft took off, it encountered local weather conditions of 16°C temperature and a wind speed of 2 knots at 269 degrees. The crosswind was negligible, while the headwind was 2 knots. The enroute climb started 1 mile southwest of Loborika, Istria, Croatia, where the aircraft climbed from 891 feet above sea level to 2,904 feet, an increase of 2,013 feet in 4 minutes, covering a distance of 2 nautical miles.
The enroute level cruise then began overhead LDPM Medulin Campanoz Airfield Medulin, Istria, Croatia, and lasted for 2 minutes, covering a distance of 2 nautical miles. The aircraft then started another enroute climb 1 mile northeast of LDPM Medulin Campanoz Airfield Medulin, climbing from 3,386 feet to 4,091 feet, an increase of 705 feet in 2 minutes, covering a distance of 4 nautical miles.
The enroute level cruise continued 2 miles southeast of Marcana, Istria, Croatia, lasting for 2 minutes and covering a distance of 5 nautical miles. The aircraft then started another enroute climb 3 miles east of Krnica, Istria, Croatia, climbing from 4,640 feet to 6,828 feet, an increase of 2,189 feet in 4 minutes, covering a distance of 11 nautical miles.
As the aircraft continued its journey, it started an enroute descent 5 miles northeast of Rabac, Istria, Croatia, descending from 6,792 feet to 2,650 feet, a decrease of 4,142 feet in 4 minutes, covering a distance of 9 nautical miles. The enroute level cruise then began 2 miles southwest of Malinska, Primorsko-Goranska Zupanija, Croatia, lasting for 2 minutes and covering a distance of 4 nautical miles.
The aircraft then started an enroute descent 1 mile east of Sveti Vid-Miholjice, Primorsko-Goranska Zupanija, Croatia, descending from 1,932 feet to 781 feet, a decrease of 1,151 feet in 2 minutes, covering a distance of 2 nautical miles. The enroute climb then started 2 miles east of Njivice, Primorsko-Goranska Zupanija, Croatia, climbing from 781 feet to 1,382 feet, an increase of 601 feet in 2 minutes, covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile.
The enroute level cruise then continued 2 miles east of Njivice, lasting for 2 minutes and covering a distance of 2 nautical miles. The final approach to runway 32 at LDRI Rijeka Airport began from the southeast, heading 324.0 degrees at 2 nautical miles and 661 feet above ground level.
The landing on runway 32 at LDRI Rijeka Airport was successful, with a touchdown distance of 232 meters and a touchdown speed of 52 knots. The touchdown rate was fair at -219 feet per minute, and the runway touchdown alignment was perfect. The local weather conditions were 15°C temperature and a wind speed of 2 knots at 270 degrees, with a crosswind of 2 knots and a headwind of 1 knot.
The total landing distance was
The Pilatus PC-6 aircraft successfully landed at LDRI Rijeka Airport, showcasing a high level of proficiency in its pilot. The final approach to runway 32 was initiated from the south east, with the aircraft heading 324.0° at a distance of 2 nautical miles and an altitude of 661 feet above ground level (agl). This approach was executed with precision, as evident from the subsequent landing performance.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft demonstrated good threshold height, with the threshold speed being 58 knots. This speed is within the acceptable range, indicating that the pilot had effectively managed the aircraft's descent and approach speed. The touchdown distance of 232 meters was also satisfactory, as it fell within the expected parameters. Furthermore, the touchdown speed of 52 knots was within the acceptable range, signifying that the pilot had maintained control of the aircraft's speed during the landing.
However, the touchdown rate of -219 feet per minute (fpm) was only fair. A higher touchdown rate can be indicative of a more controlled and stable landing, but in this case, it suggests that the pilot may have been slightly more aggressive in the approach. Nevertheless, the runway touchdown alignment was perfect, indicating that the pilot had effectively aligned the aircraft with the runway centerline.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were favorable, with a temperature of 15°C and a gentle wind of 2 knots at 270°. The crosswind component was minimal at 2 knots, while the headwind component was 1 knot. These conditions contributed to a smooth and stable landing.
The total landing distance of 755 meters was 30% of the runway length, which is a relatively short distance. This indicates that the pilot had effectively managed the aircraft's speed and descent during the approach. The runway rollout alignment was also very good, suggesting that the pilot had maintained control of the aircraft during the rollout phase.
Overall, the Pilatus PC-6 aircraft's landing at LDRI Rijeka Airport was a success, with the pilot demonstrating a high level of proficiency and control throughout the approach and landing phases.
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