An inch is as good as a mile?

[MossRoad]

Well, from the looks of that last photo, I'd have to guess that they didn't own that airplane... they weren't sweaty enough. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Bird]

Murph, have you ever been in a plane with crosswind landing gear? That's an interesting experience. The only one I've been in was a 1973 HelioCourier. The wheels could be locked in the normal straight position, but could be unlocked so they swiveled a bit. That way you could land in that crabbing position and continue down the runway the same way. It was a tail dragger, so it was a bit difficult to see over the nose when taxiing, but you could kick right rudder and taxi in a crabbing position to see out the left side.

 

[johnday]

Bird; SouthEast Asia? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[johnday]

Jinman; In that 2nd photo it looks like the suspension is pretty well compressed, must have been on the edge of the seat trying to stop? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( SouthEast Asia? )</font>

No, John, Dallas, Texas. I was commander of the police helicopter section at the time and they were trying to sell us a HelioCourier, so we had one (along with their pilot/salesman) for a week for my pilots to evaluate. I understand they used them in Southeast Asia for reconnaisance aircraft. In fact, the salesman showed me some pictures of ones on which they had extended the exhaust pipe to the rear, then routed it up through the fuselage so it exhausted at the top of the plane to make it quieter for recon flights.

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...suspension is pretty well compressed.... )</font>

Yeah John, in the final photo you can see the strut is pretty well compressed even sitting still on the runway. With the brakes applied, it's the nose wheel that has the most compression when braking. If either the main gear or nose gear bottom out it's a bad day for tires and the strut.

Markie mentioned earlier that the runway looks like it just turns into the road into town in the first photo. I'm attaching a shot of Courchevel ski resort that was sent to me as part of a PowerPoint slideshow showing some awesome photos of that airport. Notice in the photo that the curving mountain road goes through a tunnel under the runway. Since thats the touchdown target, there must be some pretty spectacular views if you are entering the tunnel just as a plane touches down. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[jinman]

Can you imagine having the job of plowing snow at this resort? I think I'd like a lot of traction. No turf tires on my tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[jinman]

Ladies and gentlemen...
Please keep your hands and arms inside the car and stay seated until the roller coaster has come to a complete stop. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[jinman]

Cessna pilots have "the right stuff." /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jinman]

Airport view without snow.