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
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 1,706 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,706 m of the 2,737 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 734 m past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with the departure roll from runway 30 at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, where the aircraft, a Black Square Starship N45FL, successfully took off after covering a distance of 747 meters, which accounted for 27% of the runway. The liftoff speed was recorded at 142 knots. At the time of takeoff, the local weather conditions were characterized by a temperature of 17 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 1 knot from a direction of 270 degrees, resulting in a negligible headwind or crosswind.
Following the departure, the aircraft entered a left-hand pattern from runway 30, completing the maneuver in less than 1 nautical mile in 119 seconds. The subsequent left-hand pattern crosswind was executed in a similarly short distance of less than 1 nautical mile in 14 seconds. The aircraft then proceeded to the pattern downwind turn, covering a distance of 3 nautical miles at an angle of 45 degrees to the runway, with an angle of 18.7 degrees to the runway centerline.
As the aircraft approached the runway, it began its final approach to runway 12 from the north-west, heading 117.0 degrees at an altitude of 505 feet above ground level and a distance of 1 nautical mile from the runway. The landing was executed on runway 12, which had a length of 2,737 meters. The threshold height was reported as good, and the threshold speed was slightly above the target speed of 116 knots.
The touchdown point was located 305 meters beyond the touchdown zone, with a touchdown speed of 92 knots and a touchdown rate of -20 feet per minute, which was considered perfect. However, the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 3.1 meters from the centerline. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 3 knots from a direction of 223 degrees, resulting in a crosswind of 3 knots and a tailwind of 1 knot.
The total landing distance covered by the aircraft was 1,613 meters, which accounted for 59% of the runway. The runway rollout alignment was reported as perfect. The total flight distance was 7 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 5 minutes. The aircraft used a total of 196 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The aircraft, Black Square Starship N45FL, successfully landed at EGPK Glasgow Prestwick Airport, achieving a high score of 96.3%. The final approach to runway 12 was initiated from the north-west, with a heading of 117.0° at 1 nautical mile and 505 feet above ground level (agl). The aircraft's approach was characterized by a good threshold height, indicating a well-executed descent.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft's threshold speed was slightly above the target speed of 115 kt, registering at 116 kt. This minor deviation from the target speed did not significantly impact the overall performance of the landing. The touchdown point was located 305 meters beyond the designated touchdown zone, which is a relatively minor deviation. The touchdown speed of 92 kt was within the acceptable range, and the touchdown rate of -20 fpm was perfect, indicating a smooth and controlled descent.
The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 3.1 meters from the centerline, which is a minor deviation. However, the runway rollout alignment was perfect, demonstrating the pilot's ability to maintain control and stability during the landing roll. The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 20°C and a gentle wind of 3 kt at 223°. The crosswind component was minimal at 3 kt, and the tailwind component was negligible at 1 kt.
The total landing distance of 1,613 meters was 59% of the runway length, which is a relatively efficient use of the available runway. Overall, the landing was characterized by a high degree of precision and control, with only minor deviations from the target parameters. The pilot's performance was commendable, and the aircraft's systems performed well under the conditions.
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