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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 · 15 stages, 14 scored
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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.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,348 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,348 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 456 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 14 at KLMT Crater Lake-Klamath Regional Airport. The VL-3 915 aircraft accelerated down the runway, covering a distance of 111 meters, which accounted for only 4% of the runway's length. The aircraft lifted off at a speed of 74 knots, marking the start of its journey.
As the aircraft entered the local traffic pattern, it began a right-hand pattern entry from runway 14. This maneuver was completed in less than 1 nautical mile in just 8 seconds. The aircraft then proceeded to make a right-hand pattern crosswind turn, which was also completed in less than 1 nautical mile, but this time in 7 seconds.
The aircraft continued its pattern, making a downwind turn with a distance of 1 nautical mile. The angle to the runway was 45 degrees, and the aircraft was heading at 122.1 degrees. The downwind leg itself was completed in less than 1 nautical mile in 8 seconds. The base leg turn was another 1 nautical mile, with the aircraft heading at 108.1 degrees.
The final turn was completed in less than 1 nautical mile in 13 seconds, after which the aircraft began its final approach to runway 07 at KLMT Crater Lake-Klamath Regional Airport. The aircraft was heading at 97.0 degrees and was at an altitude of 299 feet above ground level (agl) at 0 nautical miles from the runway.
The landing on runway 07 was successful, with the aircraft touching down 51 meters beyond the touchdown zone. However, the touchdown speed of 43 knots was a little fast, and the threshold speed was excessively high at 71 knots. The touchdown rate was smooth at -125 feet per minute, and the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 7 meters from the centerline.
The total landing distance was 566 meters, which accounted for 42% of the runway's length. The runway rollout alignment was very good, indicating a smooth and controlled descent. After landing, the aircraft taxied to the parking area, covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile in 15 minutes.
The total flight distance was 3 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 10 minutes. The aircraft used 1 kilogram of fuel during the flight. Overall, the flight was a successful and controlled operation, with the aircraft performing well in various phases of flight.
The aircraft, VL-3 915, successfully landed at KLMT Crater Lake-Klamath Regional Airport, achieving an overall score of 81.5%. The final approach was conducted from the west, heading 97.0° at 0 nm and 299 ft above ground level (agl). The aircraft landed on runway 07, which has a length of 1,348 meters.
The threshold height was satisfactory, but the threshold speed was excessively high at 71 knots. This indicates that the pilot may have been able to improve the landing by reducing the speed before touchdown. The touchdown point was 51 meters beyond the touchdown zone, which suggests that the pilot may have been slightly off-center during the landing. The touchdown speed of 43 knots was a little fast, but the touchdown rate was smooth at -125 feet per minute (fpm).
The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 7.0 meters from the centerline, which may have been due to a slight deviation during the landing. The local weather conditions were favorable, with a temperature of 15°C and a wind speed of 2 knots at 270°. The crosswind was negligible, and the tailwind was 2 knots, which may have contributed to the slightly fast touchdown speed.
The total landing distance was 566 meters, which is 42% of the runway length. This is a relatively short landing distance, indicating that the pilot was able to control the aircraft effectively during the landing. The runway rollout alignment was very good, suggesting that the pilot was able to maintain control of the aircraft during the rollout phase.
Overall, the landing was satisfactory, but there were some areas for improvement, such as reducing the threshold speed and touchdown speed. The pilot's ability to control the aircraft during the landing and rollout phases was good, and the favorable weather conditions contributed to a smooth landing.
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