My most challenging strips

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 3:36 pm

Brad gave me a great idea when he posted the link to a map of the "Death Star Trench." I thought it might be fun to post links to images of some of my favorite and some challenging strips in the my neck of the woods.

Here is a link to a image of the most challenging strip I've landed at. You follow the road south of the strip through the hills getting lower and lower in a gulley. You turn right and follow the contour of the hill till you get on the extended centerline and then kick it back to the left at the last minute to line it up and start your flare. Only landed there once in the Champ. Wouldn't try it in my RV. It could be done though. Satellite image

The next strip isn't challenging at all. It's just neat to land there. It's on the SFO sectional just west of Columbia and it's called K-Aero. It's more or less a flying dude ranch. Sky King would be proud! Satellite image

This strip is called Red Hills and is owned by Ed Moyle. He's one heck of a nice guy. We just flew in one day and he came out and served us lemonade and pulled out picture albums of the various movies that have been made on and around his property, including Little House on the Prairie, Back the the Future (the one with the train), and numerous westerns. There used to be a western town movie set near his property but it burned down about 10 years ago in a wildfire. Seems film companies like his runway as much as we do. Makes a great platform for the camera trucks and there is no highway sounds. Satellite image

I saved my favorite for last. It's where I learned to play golf. It's a little strip on the SFO sectional marked J-B just east of Stockton. A local gent named Jim Boone bought an old crop duster airstrip and built a golf course around it. He flew and loves golf and it was his dream. The runway became part of the 4th fairway but is still open to aircraft. Just drag the strip and if he sees you he'll jump in his golf cart and hold anyone who is at the 4th tee. This was a weekly pilgrimage for me for 3 years until I sold my Champ. There is nothing like landing on a golf course! Satellite image

So there you have it. A few of my favorite challenging and just plane fun strips (pun intended.) How about some of yours?

Post by **Spike** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 6:42 pm

Great Stuff Scott !!

Wicked Stick · Post by **Wicked Stick** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 8:15 pm

When my 8 is done, and I've got about 200 hours in her... I plan to make some nice trips out west. Gotta see the canyons, craters, spruce goose, at least one Van's homecoming, and would love to head out your way Scott and sample some of those challenging and fun runways you have showed us.

Post by **Spike** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:14 am

The place I really want to land my RV when it is done is Sedona Arizona.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:35 am

Well this probably isn't one of the more challenging strips to land on, but it's gonna be a challenge to get there someday! This airport is on the TOP of my list of airports that I will visit someday. Most of you Airliners.net fans will recognize this one, but I'll leave it open for some guesses for a bit...

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:25 pm

Great stuff Scott!

Have you ever flown into Gravely Valley ( Lake Pilsburry)? I haven't, but I hear it is a great place to camp and fish.

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:58 pm

Brad,
No I haven't flown in to Gravelly Valley yet. That was one of the strips I wanted to visit back when I had my Champ. Maybe we could get a West Coast RV camping trip going there. I love to camp but my family isn't too keen on camping. I bet Aerial could meet us there too.

Lest you guys think I'm more pilot than I am, all those strips were visited in my Champ, NOT my RV.

Approaching at 60mph and landing at just under 40mph makes almost any strip easy. Approaching at 80mph and landing at 58mph is a whole 'nother story.

Chad,
That looks almost like that airport in St. Maarten. But I can't place it.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:03 pm

Scott, you get the prize! Phillipsburg/St. Marteen (SXM) is correct, and the beach is Maho Beach where all the stupid tourists shoot their videos. I plan to be on that beach someday after flying my RV down there...but I won't post any videos of me getting blown in to the water...

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:09 pm

I kept looking at the picture and editing my post. I should have left well enough alone.

My friend has flown in there a couple of times in his Gulfstream IV and said it's not that bad.

I didn't know that the OTHER end of the runway butted up against ocean too!

The closest I've come to that is Shelter Cove.

Over water approaches are GORGEOUS!

4kilo · Post by **4kilo** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:39 pm

I've done some overnights at SXM, and there are a couple of things you need to remember if you get a chance to go there:

In the terminal building there is a nasty looking little grill that makes grilled ham and gooda (sp?) cheese sandwiches. Those sandwiches alone are worth the trip to St Marteen.

Just off the south end of the runway on the western end is a beach cabana/bar. Arrive early to stake out the best position to not only watch the antics at the end of the runway, but also the AWESOME scenery at the beach and later at the bar!

By the way, the runway is a lot longer than it looks.

Pat