With the increase in summertime temperatures the density altitude also increases. I frequently tell pilots “KNOW YOUR PERFORMANCE” – That doesn’t mean just know how to read the performance chart in section 5 of the AFM, but rather know exactly how the plane will perform. How you ask? With each flight you should consult your AFM to see what it calculates for takeoff distance and climb for the given condition, then do your best to estimate the actual performance that you got. By collecting actual performance data as part of each flight and comparing to book numbers you’ll soon know exactly what your plane and your flying technique delivers in terms of performance.