Short Landing at Petit Jean

rudymantel · Post by **rudymantel** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 11:51 pm

Once I had a summer job as lineboy and a local pilot I knew always boasted what short landings he could make. As I was fueling a plane I heard a Whomp! I turned to look and there was his Ercoupe with it's belly on the ground and the main gear struts poking up through the wings. Now THERE was a short landing ! We were all impressed.
Rudy

rudymantel · Post by **rudymantel** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 11:59 pm

Another story comes to mind- In Laos, in the 1960's, tools were dropped so the Meo tribesmen could cut an airstrip on a hilltop. When the airstrip was completed the inaugural landing took place. The Helio Courier approached and landed so hard the gear was splayed out and both wings had negative dihedral. Another very short landing. The pilot got out and was celebrated as a hero! The folks had never before seen an airplane land - to them it was wondeful !
Rudy

Kyle Wolfe · Post by **Kyle Wolfe** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:41 am

Bruce, wish I could say "been there - done that" but all I can say is "been there - saw that!" I was one of the many folks clapping at that landing.

Thanks to Dave for getting the video. Gosh, it makes me want to sit around the fire and see lightning bugs again. But for now I'll just need to burn some expensive gas watching the full moon set over some brilliant fall colors in the North country.

Again, nice job Bruce. It was impressive!

N170CT · Post by **N170CT** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:51 am

Bruce,

Verry good arrival. Only WISH I coulda been there

and seen that. Curiousity....Where do you practice??? Reason, I am near DC and just wondering where your airplane is based.
Regards, Chuck

Indopilot · Post by **Indopilot** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:33 am

Before moving to our current location, we used to be on a WW11 training base. Frequently, fellows who had trained there stopped in to see what was left and relive memories. One shared how they were always trying for the shortest landing in their Bamboo bombers. He claimed the winner was the fellow who wiped out the gear in the ditch and disappeared into a cloud of dust. When it cleared, 6 inches of the nose was hanging over the pavement.

Hard to beat that and use the plane again.

Post by **Bruce Fenstermacher** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:59 am

Chuck

I do most of my practicing around Quakertown, PA (UKT) where my plane is based.

AR Dave · Post by **AR Dave** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:01 pm

Had a fellow pilot ask me if I had been camped on a sandbar below Petit Jean. I hadn't but the point is, he said there was a 170 on a sandbar and had been using it routinely. We figure he's up to something sneeky. I'm thinking we have a new play strip to go with the fly-in. Bruce, I was going to measure your landing, but the plane battery was dead, then it got 9 am and 100 degs..

alaskan99669 · Post by **alaskan99669** » Sat May 20, 2006 4:13 am

AR Dave wrote:Bruce, I was going to measure your landing, but the plane battery was dead, then it got 9 am and 100 degs..

So what's your excuse now Dave? If it's similar to Anchorage International, then it's really close to 300' (as measured by red line below, which is 400' - 100' for the "L"):