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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 · 17 stages, 15 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: five checks where the approach path is 500 ft above the runway. The 1,000 ft gate was not assessed, because the approach did not join final that far out.
Side view — the last 1,464 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,464 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 106 m 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 10 at L88 New Cuyama, a small airport in California, United States. The Cessna Skyhawk took off with a takeoff distance of 283 meters, which accounted for 24% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 45 knots, and the aircraft climbed into the sky with a gentle tailwind of 13 knots.
As the aircraft climbed, it reached an altitude of 6,336 feet above sea level, an increase of 3,964 feet from its initial altitude of 2,372 feet. This climb took place over a distance of 9 nautical miles and lasted for 8 minutes. The local weather conditions at the time of takeoff were characterized by a temperature of 18 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 14 knots from a direction of 269 degrees.
After reaching its cruising altitude, the aircraft began its enroute level cruise, which lasted for 3 minutes and covered a distance of 5 nautical miles. However, this was short-lived, as the aircraft soon began its descent from 6,345 feet to 2,909 feet, a decrease of 3,435 feet over a distance of 15 nautical miles and a duration of 9 minutes.
The aircraft then leveled off again, this time at an altitude of 2,909 feet, and began another level cruise, which lasted for 2 minutes and covered a distance of 3 nautical miles. However, this was followed by another climb, which took the aircraft from 2,582 feet to 4,249 feet, an increase of 1,667 feet over a distance of 5 nautical miles and a duration of 3 minutes.
The aircraft then leveled off once more, this time at an altitude of 4,249 feet, and began another level cruise, which lasted for 5 minutes and covered a distance of 10 nautical miles. However, this was followed by a descent from 3,111 feet to 502 feet, a decrease of 2,608 feet over a distance of 2 nautical miles and a duration of 4 minutes.
As the aircraft approached the KSBP San Luis County Regional Airport, it began its final approach to runway 29 from the south east, heading 306.0 degrees at an altitude of 319 feet above ground level and a distance of 1 nautical mile from the runway.
The landing was successful, with the aircraft touching down on the runway at a speed of 44 knots and a distance of 104 meters. The touchdown rate was fair at -291 feet per minute, but the runway touchdown alignment was perfect. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 1 knot from a direction of 270 degrees.
After landing, the aircraft taxied to the parking area, taking less than 1 minute and covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile. The total flight distance was 51 nautical miles, and the flight lasted for 37 minutes. The aircraft used 17 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The Cessna Skyhawk successfully landed at KSBP San Luis County Regional Airport, achieving a high score of 98.9%. The aircraft approached the runway from the southeast, heading 306.0° at 1 nautical mile and 319 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot executed a precise final approach, aligning perfectly with the runway threshold.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft's speed was slightly below the target threshold speed of 48 knots, registering at 44 knots. However, this did not significantly impact the overall performance of the landing. The touchdown distance of 104 meters was considered good, indicating a smooth and controlled descent. The touchdown rate of -291 feet per minute (fpm) was fair, suggesting a moderate rate of descent.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 15°C and a gentle wind of 1 knot from 270°. This resulted in a negligible crosswind and headwind, allowing the pilot to maintain a stable approach. The runway length of 1,464 meters provided ample space for the aircraft to land and roll out safely.
The total landing distance of 217 meters was a mere 15% of the runway length, demonstrating the pilot's skill and control during the landing. The runway rollout alignment was also perfect, indicating a smooth and controlled deceleration of the aircraft after touchdown. Overall, the Cessna Skyhawk's landing at KSBP San Luis County Regional Airport was a textbook example of precision and control.
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