Thread: Saba, the Worlds shortest runway. apparently.

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

Originally Posted by Homestar

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

Yes and he used every metre of it to take off!

200m! Aint no A380 got time for that!

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

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
They could land and take off across the strip at Changi.
Cheers

Originally Posted by bob10

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

YouTube

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!

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

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.