Shoehorning a C-47 into Saba

Here's an enjoyable little "day trip" out of Princess Juliana into the restricted airstrip at Saba in the Netherlands Antilles.

Flyby to check the lay of the land... that's the airport under the nose... Yikes!

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u484/Hoggy_Dog/2015-5-24_23-51-15-719.png

Turning final- I know there's a runway down there somewhere...

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u484/Hoggy_Dog/2015-5-24_23-53-16-941.png

Runway is in sight, but it doesn't look long enough

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u484/Hoggy_Dog/2015-5-24_23-49-2-284.png

Rollout- fingers crossed that the brakes don't fade! Hey, no blowing snow! I guess Aharon hasn't been here yet :D

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u484/Hoggy_Dog/2015-5-24_23-54-4-291.png

Whew! Made it without going for a swim! But can we turn this thing around on that little space?

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u484/Hoggy_Dog/2015-5-24_23-54-17-621.png

Survey says: YES! But just barely...

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u484/Hoggy_Dog/2015-5-24_23-54-34-881.png

A couple of the locals watch us shut down those mighty Pratts...

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u484/Hoggy_Dog/2015-5-24_23-56-26-795.png

Such a pretty terminal

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u484/Hoggy_Dog/2015-5-24_23-59-54-233.png

Looking back at our beautiful girl as we make our way to the nearest bar to celebrate that landing

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u484/Hoggy_Dog/2015-5-24_23-58-10-329.png

• Airplane: Manfred Jahn's C-47 V2
  
• Repaint: "Esther Mae N3006" by David Robles
  
• Scenery: Fly Tampa Maarten Complete (3 airports)
  

I'm willing to bet he eliminated the screenshot of the drogue chute popping out of the tail-cone. :p

I found the missing chute!

First class pics and landing

Thanks! It was my second approach- :rolleyes: the first one was a little hot... it's amazing how disconcerting it is to see that sheer precipice as you approach, and how hard it is to resist the overwhelming urge to add 5 knots and/or plan your touchdown for 1/3 down the runway to make sure you don't have a "ramp strike." So my first landing was a bouncer AND 200 feet too far from the threshold, and I lost 1/3 runway worth of braking as I floated back down, so I went around. This is truly not the place to push your luck. :eek:

one suspects that a steam catapult maybe required for take off, or a extra whiskey at the bar.

I'll take option two, but I'll hold off until my return to Juliana. If I don't make it back to Juliana, well, I won't be needing that whiskey. :(

I left the airplane there, so I'll go back and try 1/4 flaps, 47" MAP (yellow arc), max RPM (yellow arc), full power with brakes locked, run off the end of the runway at around 55-60 KIAS and hope I can reach 73 just in the nick of time to pull up out of the dive off the 200-foot cliff at the end... Waa-HOO! Mountain Dew!

I'll FRAPS the attempt, it should be interesting. And there's no "go around" on this takeoff. :D

I'm willing to bet he eliminated the screenshot of the drogue chute popping out of the tail-cone. :p

 

I found the missing chute!

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]179673[/ATTACH]

Dammit, Zippy! How did you know?

Like your airplane, your paint, your scenery, tour story, and your shots!

Good looking shots Mr. Dog! I think I'll join you at the bar. I think the next challenge will be to drive back down that steep road to the airport after a few rounds! :p

I like everything !!! :cool::cool::cool::cool:

First class pics and landing, one suspects that a steam catapult maybe required for take off, or a extra whiskey at the bar.

You put that C-47 down very nicely. Great series of pics. too. :cool: :cool: :D

Awesome shots Doug. :)

Thank you all! :pilot:

one suspects that a steam catapult maybe required for take off

Pretty much, yes. It turned out to be the scariest takeoff I've attempted in a long time- and, unlike the landing, there are no "do-overs" on this takeoff. It's absolutely fly or crash.

After a couple of brewskis last night, I decided that since nobody watched or commented on my last video, which I tried to make ultra-realistic and even a bit theatrical (obviously failing miserably), this time I would go farcical and see what happens. :p

So rather than load the airplane I left at Saba, I loaded a different C-47 and made a video from Juliana to Saba and then attempted the takeoff.

I spent all night Frapsing, editing, captioning, poking fun with, rewriting, re-editing, uploading and processing this video and I got REALLY goofy at the end as you will see if you care to watch it. It was 5:00 AM by the time I got it all done :eek: and I'm not used to all-nighters any more.

Hope you guys enjoy it. :pilot:

Now I'm wishing I had a drouge-chute! Made it in to SABA this morning using the other approach to runway 12. Thank Frank ( He does have a name, you know!) the brakes worked their magic and I stopped by the end of the runway. Takeoff later today!;) Now where did I put those JATO bottles?

You found this already? https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/fslib.php?do=copyright&fid=185732

You'll like it! :)

You found this already? https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/fslib.php?do=copyright&fid=185732

You'll like it! :)

Thanks for the heads up Jan! I'm sure HoggyDog will be pleased, except for the fact it's upside down! Guess I'll have to relearn my flying skills! :p

You found this already? https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/fslib.php?do=copyright&fid=185732

You'll like it! :)

Gary sent me a PM, so I'm downloading it as I type this! Thanks for the heads up!

Thanks for the heads up Jan! I'm sure HoggyDog will be pleased, except for the fact it's upside down! Guess I'll have to relearn my flying skills! :p

Apparently, your lack of flying skills is contagious. I blame YOU for the post-takeoff shenanigans in my newest video, posted early this morning.

Curse you, Red Baron!

:pilot:

Now I'm wishing I had a drouge-chute! Made it in to SABA this morning using the other approach to runway 12. Thank Frank ( He does have a name, you know!) the brakes worked their magic and I stopped by the end of the runway. Takeoff later today!;) Now where did I put those JATO bottles?

Very nice! I always use Runway 30 (wind permitting) because, unlike Rwy 12, 30 has a turnaround pad at the end of it.

Also, I see you have some PAPI-type lights (hard to see them well enough to identify their actual spec) and I don't have those on either runway at Saba with my Fly Tampa payware package! :mad: Which scenery are you using?

Oh, and PS for after you watch my video: Neener neener neener. :D

Gary sent me a PM, so I'm downloading it as I type this! Thanks for the heads up!

It looks great! I left a comment for Gary in the file comments! Now if I'm correct and you are using the "OLD,free" version of EditVoicePack, like I am, don't freak out if ACT won't call you Ethiopian Airlines or Etihad.

UPDATE: I had my [General] set up for American Airlines so I changed it to C-47 and Ethiopian is now the callout by ATC and me.

• Airplane: Manfred Jahn's C-47 V2
  
• Repaint: "Esther Mae N3006" by David Robles
  
• Scenery: Fly Tampa Maarten Complete (3 airports)
  

Great screenshots and thanks for the scenery info!

David...