Events
Events
Events
Events
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 · 12 stages, 11 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: seven checks where the approach path is 300 ft above the runway. The 1,000 ft gate was not assessed, because the approach did not join final that far out.
At the 300 ft gate: sink rate above what the glideslope needed.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 816 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 816 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 380 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight was conducted in a Piper PA28-236 Dakota aircraft. The pre-flight taxiing process took approximately 1 minute and covered a distance of less than 1 nautical mile from the parking area to the runway. The aircraft departed from runway 20 at I74 Grimes, with a takeoff distance of 54 meters, which accounted for 4% of the runway length. The liftoff speed was achieved at 46 knots.
The local weather conditions at the time of departure were characterized by a temperature of 6 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 9 knots from a direction of 252 degrees. This resulted in a crosswind of 7 knots and a headwind of 5 knots. The aircraft began its enroute climb overhead Urbana, Ohio, and ascended from an altitude of 1,857 feet above sea level to 1,964 feet, an increase of 107 feet, in less than 1 minute and covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile.
Following the initial climb, the aircraft entered a level cruise phase, which lasted for 2 minutes and covered a distance of 3 nautical miles. This phase began 1 mile west of Urbana, Ohio. The enroute descent phase started 1 mile north of Tremont City, Ohio, and involved a decrease in altitude from 2,319 feet to 1,334 feet, a drop of 985 feet, in 2 minutes and covering a distance of 2 nautical miles.
The final approach to runway 09 at I54 Mad River Airpark was conducted from the east, with a heading of 273.0 degrees at an altitude of 364 feet above ground level and a distance of 0 nautical miles from the runway. The landing was executed on runway 09, which had a length of 816 meters. The threshold height was good, and the threshold speed was achieved at 76 knots. The touchdown distance was also good, at 378 meters, and the touchdown speed was 51 knots, which was considered good. The touchdown rate was perfect at -13 feet per minute, and the runway touchdown alignment was also perfect.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were similar to those at the time of departure, with a temperature of 6 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 9 knots from a direction of 252 degrees. This resulted in a crosswind of 3 knots and a headwind of 9 knots. The total flight distance was 8 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 6 minutes. The aircraft used 2 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The Piper PA28-236 Dakota aircraft successfully landed at I54 Mad River Airpark, achieving a high score of 94.4%. The pilot's approach to runway 09 from the east, heading 273.0°, was precise, with the aircraft at 0 nm and 364 ft above ground level (agl).
Upon landing, the pilot demonstrated excellent control, achieving a good threshold height and speed of 76 kt. The touchdown distance of 378 m was also within acceptable limits, indicating a smooth and controlled descent. The touchdown speed of 51 kt was well within the recommended range, and the touchdown rate of -13 fpm was perfect, signifying a gentle and stable landing.
The runway touchdown alignment was also perfect, indicating that the pilot maintained a steady course and avoided any deviations from the centerline. The local weather conditions, with a temperature of 6°C and wind at 9 kt from 252°, presented a moderate headwind component of 9 kt, which the pilot effectively managed.
The crosswind component of 3 kt was minimal, and the pilot's ability to handle it was impressive, given the relatively low speed of 51 kt at touchdown. Overall, the landing was a testament to the pilot's skill and experience, and the aircraft's performance was satisfactory.
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