FLIGHT DECK

3D Landing Simulator

About, controls, scoring, and sources

DISTANCE1.50 NM to thresholdRUNWAY REMAINING7,920 ftANGLE OF ATTACK—TOUCHDOWNNot yet

RUNWAY 18 · HDG 180° · CHASE VIEW

AGL

AIRPLANE CONTROLS

Manage the approach

Pitch and power work together. Flaps add lift and drag. Brake pressure only acts after touchdown.

KEYBOARD↑↓ nose up/down←→ power0 up · 1–4 flap detentshold S slip · B brakes

Engine RPMPower and thrust 1,700 RPM

ElevatorNegative/up = back pressure and nose up -2.0° UP

Flaps

172N reference: flap use below 85 KIAS.

Guidance & hints

AdviceShow immediate corrective actions

Need a hint?10 points available · each hint costs 10%

Landing goals, scoring, and limits

Use pitch and power to hold a stable path toward the runway.
Normal 172N flaps-down approach reference: 55–65 KIAS.
Landing quality is a transparent 0–100 score based on the FAA normal-landing standards that this simulator can measure: stabilized approach 25%, touchdown accuracy 20%, touchdown rate 20%, landing attitude 15%, touchdown speed 10%, and runway management 10%.
Score 70% or better to pass a level and unlock the next one. After a passing landing, choose whether to retry the same level or continue.
The four-light PAPI follows the FAA’s five indications: four white (high), three white and one red (slightly high), two white and two red (on the three-degree path), one white and three red (slightly low), and four red (low).
The stabilized-approach check uses the same fixed three-degree PAPI aiming point, the selected aircraft’s modeled 1.3 VSO reference with the FAA +10/−5-knot tolerance, safe descent rate, landing configuration, and freedom from stall warning.
Normal levels specify a touchdown point with a 400-foot FAA ACS window. The short-field level uses a 200-foot window. Touchdown position is recorded separately from the final stopping position.
Touchdown speed is judged near the aircraft’s minimum controllable speed using its modeled stall speed, actual flap position, and weight.
Runway alignment and crosswind correction are not scored because this activity fixes the airplane on the runway centerline and does not give the player rudder or aileron controls.
Hints reduce participation points only. They do not change the physical quality score for the landing you flew.
Flaps move gradually. Extending this tracked system adds lift and drag, initially balloons the flight path, and produces a pitch-up tendency that requires a smooth pitch and power correction.
In this display, negative elevator means trailing-edge up/back pressure. The stabilized approach begins with a small negative elevator setting.
A stall warning appears before the critical angle of attack. Continuing to add back pressure produces buffet, lift loss, a nose-down break, and a rapidly increasing descent. Reduce angle of attack first, then add power.
The ground shadow becomes larger, darker, and more centered beneath the airplane as flare height approaches.
Begin a smooth roundout at approximately 10–20 feet AGL, gradually add back pressure, and reduce power toward idle as the descent arrests.
Touch the main wheels first; then lower the nose gently and use only as much braking as needed.
Touchdowns through 180 ft/min are scored smooth; 181–340 ft/min are firm but controlled. This training classification is guided by the FAA’s example that a six-inch free fall is roughly 340 ft/min and is cushioned by tires and landing gear—not an inspection limit for a real airplane.
After a bounce, power, elevator, and flap controls remain available. A softened next contact can continue into the landing roll, while positive climb with added power becomes a go-around. Recovered bounces receive an explicit quality deduction; a severe or worsening repeated bounce ends the attempt.
A runway overrun, stall, or VNE exceedance ends the attempt, but the current level remains available for another try.
The automatic forward slip adds drag and descent without separate rudder and aileron controls. FAA guidance calls for removing the forward slip as the roundout begins. In this trainer, touching down with the automatic slip still active creates side load, starts a visible ground loop, and ends the attempt.

SAVED PROGRESSView or replay the 13 landing levels

Scores of 70% or better unlock the next level. Passed levels, earned points, and your current level remain saved on this browser. Select any unlocked level to replay it; a lower score keeps the current scenario available to retry.

Need the instructions or model sources? Read about the landing simulator.

3D Landing Simulator

Level 1 · Stabilized final