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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the pattern downwind leg
The 45-degrees-behind-the-wing cue assumes you can turn your head and use peripheral vision. Downwind spacing cues like "put the wingtip halfway up the strut" assume a fixed, known eyepoint. Neither survives a monitor unmodified. If you fly on a fixed monitor, stop pretending and fly a numbers-based circuit.
Read more in Pattern WorkStart to finish · 13 stages, 11 scored
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The threshold, the flare and the hold-off. The approach that led to it is the stabilisation gates below.
One stabilised approach gate for a circuit: five checks where the approach path is 500 ft above the runway. The 1,000 ft gate is an instrument-approach check and does not apply.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 5,000 ft of the approach.
Plan view — the first 5,000 ft of the 5,092 ft runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 1,309 ft 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 22L at KFFZ Falcon Field. The aircraft took off after a distance of 1,476 feet, which accounted for 29% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 101 knots. At the time of departure, the local weather conditions were quite hot, with a temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit. The wind was blowing at 9 knots from a direction of 241 degrees, resulting in a 2-knot crosswind and a 9-knot headwind.
As the aircraft entered the left-hand pattern, it did so from runway 22L at KFFZ Falcon Field. The entry was swift, taking less than 1 nautical mile in 22 seconds. The subsequent left-hand pattern crosswind was also completed quickly, with a distance of less than 1 nautical mile covered in 18 seconds. The pattern downwind turn was a 45-degree angle to the runway, with a distance of 1 nautical mile. The downwind leg itself was short, taking less than 1 nautical mile in 45 seconds.
The final approach to runway 22L at KFFZ Falcon Field was made from the east, with a heading of 249.0 degrees at an altitude of 207 feet above ground level (agl) and 0 nautical miles from the runway. The landing was smooth, with a touchdown speed of 90 knots and a touchdown rate of -65 feet per minute (fpm), which was considered excellent. However, the touchdown point was slightly misaligned from the centreline by 11 feet.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were similar to those at departure, with a temperature of 101 degrees Fahrenheit and a wind blowing at 14 knots from a direction of 242 degrees. This resulted in a 3-knot crosswind and a 14-knot headwind. The total landing distance was 2,639 feet, which accounted for 52% of the runway. The runway rollout alignment was very good, indicating a smooth and controlled landing.
The total flight distance was 3 nautical miles, which was completed in 2 minutes. The aircraft used -1 pound of fuel during the flight, indicating a slight fuel gain. Overall, the flight was executed smoothly and efficiently, with a good balance of speed and control.
Aircraft Frank successfully completed a landing at KFFZ Falcon Field, achieving an overall score of 88.1%. The final approach to runway 22L was initiated from the east, with the aircraft heading 249.0° at 0 nm and 207 ft above ground level (agl). The pilot maintained a good threshold height, which is a crucial aspect of a safe landing.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft landed on runway 22L, which has a length of 5,092 ft. The threshold speed was 97 kt, and the touchdown point was 869 ft beyond the touchdown zone. The touchdown speed was 90 kt, which is slightly below the threshold speed, indicating a controlled descent. The touchdown rate was excellent at -65 fpm, demonstrating a smooth and stable landing.
However, there was a slight deviation in the runway touchdown position, with the aircraft being 11 ft off the centreline. This minor misalignment may have been due to the crosswind or pilot error. The local weather conditions were hot, with a temperature of 101 °F, and a moderate wind blowing at 14 kt from 242°. The crosswind component was minimal at 3 kt, while the headwind component was 14 kt, which may have contributed to the slight deviation from the centreline.
The total landing distance was 2,639 ft, which accounts for 52% of the runway length. This is a relatively short landing distance, indicating a well-executed approach and landing. The runway rollout alignment was very good, demonstrating the pilot's ability to maintain control of the aircraft during the rollout phase.
Overall, Aircraft Frank's landing at KFFZ Falcon Field was a success, with the pilot demonstrating good control and decision-making skills. However, there is room for improvement in terms of maintaining a precise centreline alignment during the touchdown phase.
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