Events
Events
Events
Events
MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the pattern downwind leg
The 45-degrees-behind-the-wing cue assumes you can turn your head and use peripheral vision. Downwind spacing cues like "put the wingtip halfway up the strut" assume a fixed, known eyepoint. Neither survives a monitor unmodified. If you fly on a fixed monitor, stop pretending and fly a numbers-based circuit.
Read more in Pattern WorkStart to finish · 17 stages, 15 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 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.
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 3,344 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 306 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with taxiing from the parking area to the runway, which took approximately 5 minutes and covered a distance of less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft, a Cessna C172, then departed from runway 32 at ESPA Luleå Airport. The takeoff distance was 329 meters, which is 10% of the runway length. The liftoff speed was 70 knots.
The local weather conditions at the time of takeoff were characterized by a temperature of -3 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 9 knots from a direction of 340 degrees. This resulted in a crosswind of 3 knots and a headwind of 8 knots. The pilot successfully navigated the aircraft through the left-hand pattern entry from runway 32, covering a distance of 1 nautical mile in 19 seconds.
As the aircraft continued through the pattern, it encountered a crosswind from runway 32, which it navigated in 22 seconds, covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile. The pilot then executed a pattern downwind turn, covering a distance of 1 nautical mile at an angle of 87.5 degrees to the runway. The downwind leg itself covered a distance of 2 nautical miles in 78 seconds.
The pilot then initiated the base leg turn, covering a distance of 2 nautical miles at an angle of 45.5 degrees to the runway. The base leg itself covered a distance of less than 1 nautical mile in 27 seconds. The final turn was executed in 29 seconds, covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile.
The final approach to runway 32 was made from the south-east, with the aircraft heading 317.0 degrees at an altitude of 328 feet above ground level and a distance of 1 nautical mile from the runway. The landing was successful, with the aircraft touching down at a speed of 47 knots and a touchdown distance of 304 meters. The touchdown rate was excellent at -95 feet per minute.
The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned from the centreline by 8.4 meters. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of -3 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 6 knots from a direction of 340 degrees, resulting in a crosswind of 2 knots and a headwind of 6 knots. The total landing distance was 475 meters, which is 14% of the runway length. The runway rollout alignment was very good.
The total flight distance was 10 nautical miles, which was covered in 7 minutes. The aircraft used 3 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The Cessna C172 aircraft successfully landed at ESPA Luleå Airport, achieving a high score of 94.3%. The final approach to runway 32 was conducted from the south east, with a heading of 317.0° at 1 nautical mile and 328 feet above ground level (agl). The aircraft's approach was well-executed, with a good threshold height and a threshold speed that was slightly below the target at 60 knots.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft performed well, with a touchdown distance of 304 meters, which is within the acceptable range. The touchdown speed of 47 knots was also good, indicating a smooth and controlled landing. The touchdown rate of -95 feet per minute (fpm) was excellent, demonstrating a high degree of precision and control.
However, there was a slight deviation in the runway touchdown position, with the aircraft landing 8.4 meters off-centerline. This may be attributed to the crosswind component, which was relatively low at 2 knots. The local weather conditions, with a temperature of -3°C and a wind speed of 6 knots at 340°, did not appear to significantly impact the landing.
The total landing distance of 475 meters was within the acceptable range, accounting for only 14% of the runway length. The runway rollout alignment was very good, indicating that the aircraft's brakes were applied smoothly and effectively, allowing for a controlled deceleration.
Overall, the landing was successful, with the aircraft performing well in terms of speed, distance, and control. However, the slight deviation in touchdown position and the need for a slightly below-target threshold speed are areas for improvement.
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