Saba, the Worlds shortest runway. apparently.

[bob10]

Twin otter landing and takeoff, have to admit, I had a trip in a Pilatus Porter, which I think was more capable.

YouTube (https://youtu.be/sk7D2Hvqt8I)

[Homestar]

That is quite a stumpy little runway, that's for sure...

[cjc_td5]

That is quite a stumpy little runway, that's for sure...Yes and he used every metre of it to take off!

[Slunnie]

200m! Aint no A380 got time for that!

[Hugh Jars]

I’ve stopped the Dash-8 a few times like that, but I’d have no chance of getting it off again [emoji16]

[austastar]

Hi,
I've flown in RAF Twin Pioneers.
(image from google as an example of the type)
Google Image Result for https://static.wixstatic.com/media/949db6_b9a19f43fb154f62a007fb3f9e9e0a54.jpg/v1/fill/w_804,h_532,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/949db6_b9a19f43fb154f62a007fb3f9e9e0a54.webp (https://goo.gl/images/q1kbrF)
They could land and take off across the strip at Changi.
Cheers

[donh54]

Twin otter landing and takeoff, have to admit, I had a trip in a Pilatus Porter, which I think was more capable.

YouTube (https://youtu.be/sk7D2Hvqt8I)

I was on a course at Oakey many moons ago. There was a fair bit of (constant) wind forecast for the next few days, so some Pilatus Porter pilots thought they'd settle an old argument once and for all.

They marked out a regulation size tennis court on the tarmac (longitudinally with the wind) then proceeded to try landing and taking off with the main landing wheels remaining within the confines of said tennis court.

They managed the landing more than once, but the take-off was just over the baseline. They reckoned another 5 knots of wind would've seen complete success! What an amazing aircraft!

Like sitting in a Caribou and seeing the same dam go past you three times on a gusty day! [bigrolf]

[vnx205]

This used to be the world record for the shortest landing. Not sure if it still is.


https://youtu.be/2q8fBMpJ_kE

[JDNSW]

When I was working in PNG in 1970, the fixed wing pilot (can't remember the name) for Airfast, our helicopter contractor, demonstrated that it was possible to land and take off across the runway at Malalaua. I'm pretty certain that was 150ft. In a Helio Courier (pilot only and low fuel).

Also in PNG, I was a passenger in a Pilatus Porter that was coming in to Mendi (5,000ft elev) to meet the RPT flight. We were delayed by fog out of Bosavi, and made an expedited approach, joining on base about two miles from the airstrip over Ka peak at 7500ft, turned onto final at 500AGL over the piano keys, with the prop in beta range, touched down just past the numbers, and stopped in about two lengths with full reverse prop. Rather alarming view through the windscreen on final!

When I was working in the Simpson Desert in the mid sixties, our dozing contractor, flying an Auster J5G, reckoned an airstrip was one blade wide and 100 yards long.

[ramblingboy42]

Some afternoons the Porter could 'hover' in front of the tower.

We had many a porter wing ...detached from the fuselage....start flying in the hangar from a gust of wind...many bodies jump on it.

[DiscoMick]

I thought the Lord Howe Island runway was short, but I see it's 886 metres.
A pilot friend who has flown a lot in PNG tells some hairy stories about short runways, including one where you took off partway up the side of a mountain and went down before starting to climb.

[JDNSW]

One of the more interesting strips I have seen in PNG was Nuku - one of the land uphill, takeoff downhill ones. But more interesting than most because the approach is over the ridge on the opposite side of the valley. In this part of the world the only flattish land is on top of the ridges, so this is where the villages are - and the village on the opposite ridge has a gap in the palm trees and the houses in line with the strip.

After touchdown, it was necessary to apply full throttle and ensure the plane was kept moving until the top of the slope was reached, otherwise it was necessary to get the station tractor to tow it to the top. And aircraft needed to be parked crossways, as otherwise there was a good chance they would end up at the bottom of the strip in an unairworthy condition. And turn fuel tank crossfeed OFF!

Approach and landing in the C206 and BN2A we mostly used were interesting, but the most interesting was one trip I made as a passenger in a C402 (which could land at maximum weight, but could only takeoff pretty much empty). Approach over the opposite ridge, normal, with full flap by the ridge, then, as soon as clear of the ridge, add maximum side slip, straightening up just before the threshold.

As mentioned above, all takeoffs downhill, but do not attempt to outclimb the opposite ridge, but turn downstream as soon as safe after you are airborne.

Another airstrip I visited nearby, fortunately by helicopter, has a strip that is only about 5% slope - but it is only 1100 feet long, and has a near vertical drop off both ends.

Then there is Ambunti, on the banks of the Sepik - nice long, level strip, at right angles to the river. But all approaches and departures across the river, regardless of wind, and no hope of a go-round due to the hills on all sides except the river.

[Hugh Jars]

I thought the Lord Howe Island runway was short, but I see it's 886 metres.

It’s short for a loaded up Dash 8. The LDA on 28 is 785m. We used to have an exemption on CAO 20.7.1b to use the airport.

We also had to carry a mainland alternate (even after the regs were changed to remove the requirement).
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181010/76b0a5215205597446611b7a4e8b3904.jpg
Approach to RWY 10.

[4bee]

Thank god it looks bigger as you get closer, eh?[smilebigeye]

[Hugh Jars]

Thank god it looks bigger as you get closer, eh?[smilebigeye]

Trouble is, it doesn’t [emoji23][emoji23]
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181010/ae141874e841d150ce067dce647802cc.jpg

A quick Ball’s Pyramid scenic.

[4bee]

Oh dear.[bighmmm]

Maybe the aircraft shrinks then? Like a Canon Printer setting "Fit to Page".[smilebigeye]