Events
Events
Events
Events
MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the pattern base leg
Bank angle in the pattern is conventionally kept to 20 to 30 degrees, and the base-to-final turn is where that convention earns its keep. Stall speed rises with bank because the wing must produce more lift in a turn. Roughly 7 per cent higher at 30 degrees, about 19 per cent at 45, and around 40 per cent at 60. At 65 kt on base you don't have much margin to spend steepening a turn to salvage an overshoot.
Read more in Pattern WorkStart to finish · 14 stages, 13 scored
Events
Events
Events
Events
One stabilised approach gate for a circuit: six checks at the point nearest 500 ft above the runway after the base turn. The 1,000 ft gate is an instrument-approach check and does not apply.
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 144 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. The aircraft, a Sting S4, required a takeoff distance of 171 meters, which accounted for 9% of the runway. The liftoff speed was achieved at 71 knots. At the time of departure, the local weather conditions were characterized by a temperature of 16 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 2 knots from a direction of 269 degrees. This resulted in a crosswind of 1 knot and a headwind of 2 knots.
As the aircraft entered the left-hand pattern from runway 23, it demonstrated impressive agility, completing the maneuver in less than 1 nautical mile in just 18 seconds. The subsequent left-hand pattern crosswind turn was even quicker, taking 17 seconds to complete. The pattern downwind turn involved a distance of 1 nautical mile, with an angle to the runway of 87.0 degrees. The downwind leg itself covered a distance of 2 nautical miles in 59 seconds.
The pattern base leg turn required a distance of 1 nautical mile, with an angle to the runway of 35.6 degrees. The base leg itself was completed in less than 1 nautical mile in 37 seconds. The final turn was the shortest, taking just 8 seconds to complete. The aircraft then began its final approach to runway 23 from the north-east, heading 229.0 degrees at an altitude of 1 nautical mile and 234 feet above ground level.
The landing on runway 23 was successful, with a touchdown distance of 142 meters. Although the touchdown speed of 37 knots was slightly above the target, the touchdown rate of -41 feet per minute was perfect. The runway touchdown alignment was also spot on. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were identical to those at departure, with a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 2 knots from a direction of 269 degrees.
The flight itself was relatively short, covering a total distance of 5 nautical miles in just 4 minutes. Notably, the aircraft used zero kilograms of fuel during the flight. Overall, the flight demonstrated impressive performance and control, with the pilot executing a series of complex maneuvers with ease and precision.
The aircraft in question, a Sting S4, successfully landed at EGPE Inverness Airport, demonstrating a high level of proficiency in its flight operations. The final approach to runway 23 was initiated from the north east, with the aircraft heading 229.0° at a distance of 1 nautical mile and an altitude of 234 feet above ground level (agl).
Upon landing, the aircraft touched down on the runway with a distance of 142 meters, which is considered good. However, the touchdown speed of 37 knots was slightly above the target speed, indicating that the pilot may have been able to flare the aircraft more effectively to achieve a smoother touchdown. The threshold speed was also slightly below the target at 47 knots, suggesting that the pilot may have been able to maintain a more consistent approach speed.
The touchdown rate of -41 feet per minute (fpm) was perfect, indicating that the aircraft was able to touch down smoothly and maintain control throughout the landing. The runway touchdown alignment was also perfect, demonstrating the pilot's ability to accurately align the aircraft with the runway.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 15°C and a wind speed of 2 knots from 269°. The crosswind component was minimal at 1 knot, while the headwind component was 2 knots, which is relatively light and should not have presented any significant challenges for the pilot.
Overall, the landing was successful, and the aircraft's performance was impressive, with a score of 98.8%. The pilot's ability to maintain control and precision throughout the approach and landing phases is a testament to their skill and experience.
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