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 · 16 stages, 15 scored
Events
Events
Events
One stabilised approach gate for a circuit: six checks at the point nearest 500 ft above the runway after the base turn. The 1,000 ft gate is an instrument-approach check and does not apply.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 2,737 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 739 m past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The Velocity XL aircraft departed from runway 12 at EGPK Glasgow Prestwick Airport, rolling down the runway for a takeoff distance of 141 meters, which accounted for 5% of the runway's length. The aircraft lifted off at a speed of 112 knots, and the local weather conditions at the time of takeoff were characterized by a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 1 knot from a direction of 270 degrees, resulting in a negligible crosswind and tailwind.
Following takeoff, the aircraft entered a right-hand pattern, navigating the turn in less than 1 nautical mile in 19 seconds. The subsequent crosswind turn was completed in an even shorter distance of less than 1 nautical mile in 9 seconds. The aircraft then proceeded to the downwind leg, covering a distance of 1 nautical mile and making a turn at an angle of 76.8 degrees relative to the runway. The downwind leg itself spanned 3 nautical miles, taking 73 seconds to complete.
As the aircraft approached the base leg, it made a turn at an angle of 22.9 degrees relative to the runway, covering a distance of 2 nautical miles. The base leg itself was short, lasting less than 1 nautical mile in 8 seconds. The final turn was completed in less than 1 nautical mile in 25 seconds, setting the aircraft up for a final approach to runway 12 from the north-west, at a heading of 133.0 degrees and an altitude of 426 feet above ground level.
The aircraft landed on runway 12, with a touchdown point located 304 meters beyond the touchdown zone. The touchdown speed was 68 knots, which was considered good, and the touchdown rate was perfect at -35 feet per minute. However, the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned from the centerline by 3.4 meters. The local weather conditions at the time of landing remained the same as during takeoff.
The total landing distance was 1,067 meters, accounting for 39% of the runway's length. The runway rollout alignment was very good, indicating a smooth and controlled descent. The total flight distance was 7 nautical miles, taking 4 minutes to complete, and the aircraft used no fuel during the flight.
The Aircraft Velocity XL successfully landed at EGPK Glasgow Prestwick Airport, achieving a score of 95.3%. The aircraft approached the runway from the north-west, heading 133.0° at 1 nautical mile and 426 feet above ground level (agl). The landing was executed on runway 12, which has a length of 2,737 meters.
The threshold height was satisfactory, but the threshold speed was slightly too high at 98 knots. However, the touchdown speed of 68 knots was within the acceptable range, and the touchdown rate of -35 feet per minute (fpm) was perfect. The touchdown point was 304 meters beyond the touchdown zone, which indicates that the aircraft could have been brought down more smoothly.
The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 3.4 meters from the centerline, which may have been due to the aircraft's approach path or the pilot's control inputs. The local weather conditions were favorable, with a temperature of 15°C and a wind speed of 1 knot from 270°. The crosswind and tailwind components were both 1 knot, which suggests that the aircraft was not significantly affected by wind during the landing.
The total landing distance was 1,067 meters, which is 39% of the runway length. This is a relatively short landing distance, indicating that the aircraft was brought down smoothly and efficiently. The runway rollout alignment was very good, suggesting that the pilot maintained control of the aircraft during the rollout phase.
Overall, the landing was successful, but there is room for improvement in terms of threshold speed and touchdown point accuracy. The pilot's skills and the aircraft's performance were satisfactory, and the landing was executed in a safe and efficient manner.
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