TV commercial with Jet on Dirt Strip.

[bearcuban12]

I have a mate who works for an ad agency who is tasked with making an TV commercial for a 4wd.

The concept is that there is a pilot who is trying to hitch a ride. The 4WD stops to pick him up and you see that his plane, a small jet. The plane then is towed by the 4WD and takes off as if jump started by the towing. You see the 4WD driving and the plane in the air behind it. Most of it will be done with computer graphics, but they still need the plane at the location.

They intially wanted to use the salt flats, but I have told them that finding a jet operator that is willing to land their jet on the salt flats will be next to impossible. I have suggested that they use a dirt strip, but I have no idea about an appropriate dirt strip.

It would need to be fairly close to MEL,SYD or BNE to minimise the cost of the aircraft ferry.

Does anyone have any suggestions and photos?

Many thanks for your help.

[Chadzat]

you could always just fly the jet to an airfield with a dirt cross strip. Get special permission from the council to put X's on the cross strip with a NOTAM and that'd save you a bit of money. You might find an operator willing to do it then as the aircraft wouldn't have to operate on the dirt.

[Ex FSO GRIFFO]

G'day 'Bear'....

It sounds like a film set maker's dream...and some clever photo 'angles'.....

Remember the scene in "Capricorn 1" where the Lear lands in the 'desert'?

I would bet a 'carton' that it landed on a good strip, but with the mound of carefully landscaped dirt in front of the camera angle - the acft wheels were just not visible - and some dust blown around, it looked OK to the average punter.

I reckon you could do this it at BK or at any country strip wherever the desired 'background' is.

I was in Broome for a particular aviation related film and to get 'Broome' in the early days, they carted in loads of pindan and laid it over the sealed road in front of a very old warehouse to give the appearance of - the desired effect!

Of course, they had to clean it up later......

Would this idea be of any use to you??

Or, there are always locations like 'Muloorina' where Donald Campbell did his speed attempts on the salt lake there.

Cheers:ok:

[AN CSO]

Camden would be a good airport for it. It was used as the back drop for the TV series Big Sky when they wanted a country airport. It has a dirt/grass cross strip and a sealed runway capable of taking small jets. Another good one would be Bathurst, it also has a dirt/grass cross strip. plus a sealed main runway suitable for jets. Both of these are close to BK where there a few Citation I's and II's based that could be used.

[Sunfish]

I would be surprised if any jet operator would land on a dirt strip unless the aircraft was certified to be able to operate from one. The main dangers I can think of include FOD damage to both engines from gravel injestion as well as damage to the underside of the wings, fuselage, flaps, gear doors etc. from gravel rash.
I seem to recall that Boeing had a special mod kit for the older B737 for gravel runways. It had bleed air jets to break up engine vortices, a cover to prevent the nose gear from spraying gravel everywhere, and fibreglass armour for the underside of the flaps.
Then of course there is the pavement strength question.
You might find it quicker and cheaper to locate one of these aircraft and charter it, or switch to an RAAF Hercules or Caribou.
Anyway I'm only an amateur, the professionals may have better advice.
P.S. If you find one, tell us ppruners so that we can come and watch:ok:

[Wheeler]

Try a jet at Wedderburn - close to Sydney...

[Grivation]

A large Dutch resource company that I worked with operates Citation models (including swept wing VII's) on dirt / gravel strips in Eastern Europe with no problems.

I'm sure there would be a Citation around the place somewhere with a gravel kit fitted.

[Woomera]

Why fake it? If a Citation will go into Telefomin in PNG........

Citation II, nose wheel spin up kit, 1,200 meter dirt strip - totally legal and no sweat at all!!! :ok:

[Jet_A_Knight]

Does the plane need to be airworthy?????



I seem to remember an old HS125 with the old QF logo on the tail sitting at either The Oaks (west of Camden) - or was it at Hoxton Park??

i don't presume it has flown away anywhere since.....

[Taildragger67]

Does the plane need to be airworthy?????
I seem to remember an old HS125 with the old QF logo on the tail sitting at either The Oaks (west of Camden) - or was it at Hoxton Park??
i don't presume it has flown away anywhere since.....

That was Oaks. Crikey last time I saw that there was about... let's just say 'the year after the Bicentennial year'... and it was looking rather the worse for wear then!! It's not still there, is it?

Had been owned by QF during the years when they were all-747, as a trainer. I think they had two.

[Aerodynamisist]

Any one remember the 'statesman deville" add from the 80's where a glider got towed aloft ?

[Westaussielame]

bearcuban12 ,look up the new owners of VH-MOJ a Cessna Citation 525CJ .it has recently changed hands and is now on the East coast.This aircraft has a gravel kit fitted and used to operate out of the Onslow WA (dirt) airstrip on a regular basis.

[Ejector]

Citation II, nose wheel spin up kit, 1,200 meter dirt strip - totally legal and no sweat at all!!!

Can you please explain what that kit is all about and what advantage it gives?:)

[bearcuban12]

Does anyone have a photo of Wedderburn?
I like the idea of that if it is close to Sydney.

Someone has suggested Marla, and it looks good, but it is too far away from MEL/SYD to ferry an aircraft.

[bundybear]

Have taken a HS125 into Mt Door, near Mt Isa. Private strip owned by Aus. National Resourses (I think).
Was about 2000m long if I remember correctly, with a fantastic sunburnt country backdrop.
Has or had a concrete pan for parking. There was a metro operator going in there frequently with mine staff, perhaps one of those guys would know more.

BB

[pakeha-boy]

mate...why dont you just put a couple of bulls in a citation and do another.."..outta the way sheepshagger" clip....I have this mate who has a farm.......

[tinpis]

Well you could use Adobe an grab something outa this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BIJqb90S-8)

That poor old 727 is gunna fall to bits

[an3_bolt]

Don't mean to step on Woomera's toes....
Citation 2 (550 model) with nosewheel spin up.......is a bleed air system that spins the nosewheel up to prevent FOD ingestion with wheel contact on an unsealed strip. Works well - have flown with it many many many times. Something along the lines of wheel spinning faster than groundspeed at touchdown will reduce the upward trojectory of rocks etc therefore not damaging the wing leading edges and not throwinging crap down the engines. Someone might be able to help out if the chimed nosewheel helps??? or if the chime is simply for water deflection away from engine lines on wet runways like DC9??
Short strips are not a problem either - just get into the book and check out the balanced field length and you will be amazed - used to get in and out of some very short stuff in PNG.
If a remember correctly the C550 has antiskid as well.
Just thinking laterally - what about bringing the 4wd to a plane instead of bring the plane to the 4wd..... :p

[bearcuban12]

Just thinking laterally - what about bringing the 4wd to a plane instead of bring the plane to the 4wd..... :p


This has always been the intention, -- however the problem being the fact that there is no Citation based at a dirt strip.

[an3_bolt]

...understand what you are are saying .... and that would be exactly true. However, you would probably be able to find a plane that goes to a dirt strip on a regular occurance - and tee it up in advance with the run....and voila there you have it. Or at very worst a plane that goes near a suitable dirt strip on a ferry home that you might be able to tee up in advance.

Only what i would do. But I am not in advertising - already married these days. But I do hear these advertsing dudes get a bit of a big budget to do these things - so money may not be the obstacle to overcome.

I am sure you will work it out - and my very best wishes. I do look forward to seeing the ad.

[jib]

bearcuban12
PM me if you wish. Easy to do with C550 or Beechjet 400A with a gravel kit. I can provide a Beechjet if you still need one.
jib