Events
Events
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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 · 9 stages, 7 scored
Events
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.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 747 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 747 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 139 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 26 at LRPW Gheorghe Valentin Bibescu. The aircraft, a Savage Cub, accelerated down the runway, covering a distance of 238 meters, which accounted for 32% of the total runway length. The liftoff speed was achieved at 70 knots, marking the start of the takeoff phase.
As the aircraft climbed away from the airport, it encountered local weather conditions of 15°C temperature and a gentle headwind of 2 knots from a direction of 270°. The climb was initiated overhead the airport, with the aircraft ascending from an initial altitude of 790 feet above sea level to 916 feet, a gain of 126 feet over a period of 2 minutes. During this time, the aircraft covered a distance of 1 nautical mile.
As the aircraft approached the final approach phase, it began its descent from an altitude of 325 feet above ground level, heading towards runway 26 from the east at a bearing of 258.0°. The aircraft was 1 nautical mile from the runway threshold at this point.
The landing phase was executed smoothly, with the aircraft touching down on the runway at a distance of 137 meters. The touchdown speed was 34 knots, which was within the acceptable range. The touchdown rate was also smooth, at -138 feet per minute, indicating a gentle descent onto the runway. The runway touchdown alignment was perfect, indicating that the aircraft was aligned with the runway centerline at the moment of touchdown.
The local weather conditions remained the same throughout the flight, with a temperature of 15°C and a headwind of 2 knots from a direction of 270°. The crosswind component was negligible, at 0 knots. The total flight distance was 2 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 3 minutes. The aircraft consumed 1 kilogram of fuel during the flight.
The aircraft in question is the Savage Cub, which successfully landed at LRPW Gheorghe Valentin Bibescu with a score of 95.5%. The final approach to runway 26 was initiated from the east, heading 258.0° at a distance of 1 nautical mile and an altitude of 325 feet above ground level (agl).
Upon landing, the aircraft touched down on the runway with a good threshold height, indicating a smooth and controlled descent. However, the threshold speed was slightly below the target speed of 43 knots, which may be a minor concern for the pilot. Nevertheless, the touchdown distance of 137 meters was within acceptable limits, demonstrating a well-executed landing.
The touchdown speed of 34 knots was also good, indicating that the pilot managed to slow down the aircraft effectively before touching down. The touchdown rate of -138 feet per minute (fpm) was smooth, suggesting that the pilot maintained control throughout the landing process. Furthermore, the runway touchdown alignment was perfect, indicating that the pilot successfully 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 headwind of 2 knots from 270°. There was no crosswind, which made the landing even more manageable for the pilot. Overall, the landing was successful, and the pilot demonstrated good control and decision-making skills throughout the process.
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