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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Know your rotation speed
Next time
Rotate the moment the speed tape reaches 142 kt, not after it.
What happened: Rotation was held until 172 kt, 30 kt past the 142 kt rotation target. Carrying that much extra speed into rotation usually adds unwanted energy right at liftoff.
Watch for: Airspeed indicator against the 142 kt rotation target.
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 · 21 stages, 19 scored
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The threshold, the flare and the hold-off. The approach that led to it is the stabilisation gates below.
Two stabilised approach gates, each with seven checks, where the approach path is 1,000 ft and 500 ft above the runway. They are the approach's score: the checks passed out of the checks that ran.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 5,594 ft of the approach.
Plan view — the first 5,594 ft of the 8,927 ft runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 1,766 ft past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The Airbus A300 taxied from the parking area to runway 27L at KPHL Philadelphia International Airport, a movement that required 14 minutes and covered 2 nm.
During the departure roll on runway 27L the aircraft accelerated to a liftoff speed of 173 kt, using a takeoff distance of 4,089 ft (40 % of the runway). Ambient conditions were a temperature of 92 °F, wind 7 kt from 240°, with a 2 kt cross-wind component and a 7 kt head-wind.
The first climb began overhead 9N2 Philadelphia Seaplane Base Essington, climbing from 968 ft asl to 4,971 ft asl - a gain of 4,003 ft - in 2 minutes while covering 6 nm.
A short level cruise followed overhead Trainer, lasting 3 minutes and extending 13 nm.
The second climb commenced overhead Hockessin, raising the aircraft from 5,001 ft asl to 31,991 ft asl, an increase of 26,990 ft achieved in 17 minutes over a distance of 110 nm.
Subsequent level cruise started 1 mile east of Martinsburg, persisting for 17 minutes and spanning 114 nm.
The third climb started 10 miles south of Buckhannon, climbing from 32,000 ft asl to 37,996 ft asl - a rise of 5,996 ft - in 7 minutes while covering 49 nm.
A further cruise segment began 12 miles north-east of Pinch, lasting 42 minutes and covering 313 nm.
Descent began overhead Clarksville, descending from 37,935 ft asl to 3,443 ft asl, a loss of 34,492 ft in 22 minutes across 146 nm.
A brief level cruise followed 1 mile north of Collierville, lasting 3 minutes and adding 11 nm to the flight path.
The final approach to runway 27 at KMEM Memphis International Airport was executed from the east, on a heading of 273.0° at 4 nm and 1,542 ft agl.
Landing on runway 27, whose length is 8,927 ft, the aircraft touched down 389 ft beyond the touchdown zone with a speed of 121 kt, slightly above the threshold speed of 128 kt. The touchdown rate was minus 189 fpm and alignment was perfect. Local weather reported a temperature of 95 °F, wind 5 kt from 150°, a 4 kt cross-wind component and a 2 kt tail-wind. Total landing distance measured 5,317 ft, representing 60 % of the runway.
Runway rollout proceeded with very good alignment.
The aircraft taxied from the runway to the parking area in 2 minutes, covering less than 1 nm.
In total the flight covered 770 nm, required 126 minutes of elapsed time, and consumed 21,528 lb of fuel.
The final approach to runway 27 at KMEM was flown from the east on a heading of 273.0° at 4 nm and 1,542 ft agl. The approach was assessed as stabilised at the 1,000 ft gate, with gear, flaps, sink rate, glideslope and centreline all within limits.
At threshold the aircraft displayed good threshold height and a threshold speed of 128 kt, which was judged good. The flare progressed smoothly and the aircraft crossed the runway threshold with a touchdown point 389 ft beyond the touchdown zone.
Touchdown occurred with a speed of 121 kt, noted as a little fast, and a vertical rate of minus 189 fpm, described as good. Runway touchdown alignment was perfect.
The aircraft rolled out over a total landing distance of 5,317 ft, representing 60 % of the 8,927 ft runway, and runway rollout alignment was very good.
With a score of 98.9 % the landing was strong; refining the touchdown point to land nearer the aim point and moderating speed slightly below 121 kt will tighten the already excellent performance.
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