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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the pattern base leg turn
Bank angle in the pattern is conventionally kept to 20 to 30 degrees, and the base-to-final turn is where that convention earns its keep. Stall speed rises with bank because the wing must produce more lift in a turn. Roughly 7 per cent higher at 30 degrees, about 19 per cent at 45, and around 40 per cent at 60. At 65 kt on base you don't have much margin to spend steepening a turn to salvage an overshoot.
Read more in Pattern WorkStart to finish · 12 stages, 11 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 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 4,984 ft of the approach.
Plan view — the full 4,984 ft runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 1,218 ft touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with a departure roll from runway 32 at KEWB New Bedford Regional Airport. The Cessna Skyhawk took off with a takeoff distance of 666 feet, which accounted for 13% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 68 knots, indicating a smooth and controlled takeoff.
As the aircraft entered the local airspace, it encountered a temperature of 67 degrees Fahrenheit and a wind of 12 knots at 330 degrees. This resulted in a crosswind of 4 knots and a headwind of 11 knots. The pilot successfully navigated the aircraft through the left-hand pattern entry from runway 32, completing the maneuver in less than 1 nautical mile in 60 seconds.
The left-hand pattern crosswind was also executed with precision, with the aircraft covering the distance in less than 1 nautical mile in 20 seconds. The pattern downwind turn was completed with a distance of 1 nautical mile and an angle to the runway of 57.8 degrees. The downwind leg itself was 2 nautical miles long and took 55 seconds to complete.
As the aircraft began its approach to runway 32, it turned onto the base leg, which was a short distance of 0 nautical miles. The angle to the runway was 15.8 degrees, indicating a smooth and controlled turn. The final approach was made from the southeast, heading 311.0 degrees at an altitude of 82 feet above ground level.
The landing on runway 32 was successful, with the aircraft touching down at a speed of 41 knots. The touchdown distance was 1,209 feet, which was within acceptable limits. The touchdown rate was excellent at -60 feet per minute, and the runway touchdown alignment was perfect. The local weather conditions remained consistent, with a temperature of 67 degrees Fahrenheit and a wind of 10 knots at 330 degrees.
The flight was completed with a total distance of 3 nautical miles, taking 4 minutes to complete. The aircraft used 3 pounds of fuel during the flight, indicating efficient operation. Overall, the flight was executed with precision and control, demonstrating the pilot's skill and expertise in navigating the Cessna Skyhawk.
The Cessna Skyhawk successfully landed at KEWB New Bedford Regional Airport, achieving a high score of 97.9%. The aircraft approached the runway from the southeast, heading 311.0° at an altitude of 82 feet above ground level (agl) and 0 nautical miles from the runway. This precise approach demonstrates the pilot's skill and attention to detail.
Upon landing, the aircraft touched down on runway 32, which has a length of 4,984 feet. The threshold height was good, indicating that the pilot maintained a safe altitude before touchdown. However, the threshold speed was slightly above the target speed of 64 knots, which may be a minor area for improvement. Nevertheless, the touchdown distance of 1,209 feet was within acceptable limits, and the touchdown speed of 41 knots was also good.
One of the standout aspects of this landing was the excellent touchdown rate of -60 feet per minute (fpm). This indicates that the pilot managed to slow the aircraft down quickly and smoothly, reducing the risk of overrunning the runway. Additionally, the runway touchdown alignment was perfect, demonstrating the pilot's ability to maintain control and precision during the landing.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 67°F and a wind speed of 10 knots from 330°. The crosswind component was minimal at 4 knots, while the headwind component was 9 knots. These conditions likely contributed to the smooth and controlled nature of the landing. Overall, this landing demonstrates the pilot's skill and expertise in navigating challenging weather conditions and executing a precise and safe landing.
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