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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 · 22 stages, 21 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.
At the 500 ft gate: sink rate above what the glideslope needed and off the centreline.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 2,280 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 242 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with a taxiing period from the parking area to the runway, which took approximately 1 minute and covered less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft, a PC-21, then departed from runway 23L at LELC San Javier Airport. The takeoff distance was 549 meters, which accounted for 24% of the runway length. The liftoff speed was 108 knots.
The local weather conditions at the time of takeoff were characterized by a temperature of 17 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 4 knots from a direction of 269 degrees. This resulted in a crosswind of 3 knots and a headwind of 3 knots. The aircraft climbed from 1,039 feet above sea level to 14,337 feet above sea level, an increase of 13,298 feet, in 4 minutes and covering 11 nautical miles.
The enroute climb started again 8 miles east of La Union, where the aircraft climbed from 14,770 feet above sea level to 18,923 feet above sea level, an increase of 4,154 feet, in 2 minutes and covering 3 nautical miles. The aircraft then entered a level cruise, lasting 2 minutes and covering less than 1 nautical mile. Another climb started 8 miles south east of La Union, where the aircraft climbed from 19,543 feet above sea level to 20,030 feet above sea level, an increase of 487 feet, in 2 minutes and covering 7 nautical miles.
The aircraft then entered a prolonged level cruise, lasting 52 minutes and covering 51 nautical miles. The enroute descent started 4 miles east of LECE AeroCieza Cieza, where the aircraft descended from 20,281 feet above sea level to 4,005 feet above sea level, a decrease of 16,276 feet, in 7 minutes and covering 28 nautical miles. The aircraft then entered another level cruise, lasting 10 minutes and covering 16 nautical miles.
The enroute descent started again 6 miles south east of Torrevieja, where the aircraft descended from 4,021 feet above sea level to 1,304 feet above sea level, a decrease of 2,717 feet, in 4 minutes and covering 10 nautical miles. The final approach to runway 23L at LELC San Javier Airport was made from the north east, heading 226.0 degrees at 4 nautical miles and 1,287 feet above ground level.
The landing on runway 23L was successful, with a touchdown distance of 243 meters and a touchdown speed of 110 knots, which was slightly fast. The touchdown rate was smooth at -109 feet per minute. However, the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 3.4 meters from the centerline. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 4 knots from a direction of 270 degrees, resulting in a crosswind of 3 knots and a headwind of 3 knots.
The total landing distance was 651 meters, which accounted for 29% of the runway length. The runway rollout alignment was perfect. The total flight distance was 134 nautical miles, taking 60 minutes, and the aircraft used 271 kilograms of fuel.
The PC-21 aircraft successfully landed at LELC San Javier Airport, achieving a score of 96.9%. The final approach was conducted from the north-east, heading 226.0° at a distance of 4 nautical miles and an altitude of 1,287 feet above ground level (agl). The aircraft touched down on runway 23L, which has a length of 2,280 meters.
The threshold height was satisfactory, but the threshold speed was slightly too high at 117 knots. However, the touchdown distance of 243 meters was considered good, indicating a smooth and controlled descent. The touchdown speed of 110 knots was somewhat fast, but the touchdown rate of -109 feet per minute (fpm) was smooth, suggesting a well-executed landing.
The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned from the centreline by 3.4 meters, which may require some adjustments in the approach and landing technique. The local weather conditions were favorable, with a temperature of 15°C and a light wind of 4 knots at 270°. The crosswind and headwind components were minimal, at 3 knots each.
The total landing distance of 651 meters was 29% of the runway length, which is a relatively short distance. The runway rollout alignment was perfect, indicating a well-controlled and stable landing. Overall, the landing was successful, but there are some areas for improvement, particularly in terms of threshold speed and touchdown position alignment.
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