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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, 8 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: 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 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 1,800 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 245 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
Departing from Cotswold Airport, Kemble, in Gloucestershire, England, the Cessna C195 began its takeoff roll on runway 26. The aircraft accelerated down the 1,111-meter runway, utilizing 69% of its available length, before lifting off at a speed of 78 knots. The local weather conditions were characterized by a temperature of 15°C and a light headwind of 1 knot from a southerly direction.
As the aircraft transitioned into the enroute climb phase, it began to ascend from an initial altitude of 603 feet above sea level to 654 feet, a gain of 51 feet over a period of one minute. This climb phase covered a distance of approximately 2 nautical miles. The aircraft continued on its westward heading, eventually establishing a final approach to runway 08 at Cotswold Airport. The approach was characterized by a heading of 77.0° and an altitude of 227 feet above ground level, with the aircraft positioned at 0 nautical miles from the runway threshold.
The Cessna C195 successfully landed on runway 08, utilizing 34% of the available 1,618-meter runway length. The touchdown speed of 55 knots was within acceptable limits, and the touchdown rate of -101 feet per minute was smooth. The runway touchdown alignment was perfect, and the runway rollout alignment was very good. The total landing distance of 551 meters was well within the expected range. The aircraft utilized a minimal amount of fuel, with a total flight distance of 3 nautical miles and a flight time of 3 minutes.
The final approach to runway 08 at EGBP Cotswold Airport from the west was executed with precision, with the aircraft maintaining a heading of 77.0° at 0 nm and 227 ft above ground level. The approach quality was excellent, with a good threshold height and a threshold speed of 69 kt, well within the acceptable range. As the aircraft touched down on the runway, the touchdown distance of 243 m was satisfactory, and the touchdown speed of 55 kt was also within the desired parameters. The touchdown rate of -101 fpm was smooth, indicating a well-controlled descent.
The runway touchdown alignment was perfect, with the aircraft centered on the runway centerline. The local weather conditions, with a temperature of 15 °C and a wind of 1 kt at 270°, contributed to a relatively calm and stable environment for the landing. The crosswind component was negligible, and the tailwind of 1 kt had a minimal impact on the aircraft's performance. As a result, the total landing distance of 551 m, which accounted for 34% of the runway length, was acceptable.
The rollout phase was executed with great skill, with the aircraft maintaining a very good alignment on the runway centerline. The overall performance of the landing was exceptional, with a score of 98.2% reflecting the high level of proficiency demonstrated by the pilot. The combination of a good approach, smooth touchdown, and controlled rollout resulted in a safe and efficient landing, with the aircraft coming to a stop well within the available runway length.
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