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Old 26th Sep 2008, 14:34
  #70 (permalink)  
JW411
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: UK
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The runway at Bait al Falaj was originally a gravel strip about 4200 ft long and quite narrow (60 ft?). The next stage came when they concreted about 500 ft at each end.

Then, when SOAF ordered Strikemasters to replace the Piston Provosts, they decided that the whole runway needed to concreted. They started from both ends moving towards the middle and then realised that they weren't going to meet!

Thus the nice new runway had a 2 or 3 degree heading change halfway down. It looked quite strange coming down finals but not so obvious after landing.

Gulf Aviation did indeed start a schedule into Bait with the BAC 1-11. It ran about once a week and it would be fair to say that they did not have a lot of room to spare.
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