London Heathrow questions

[old,not bold]

2) The runways are posted as only 50 metres wide, so technically, no!

Yes, well, having done my ab initio in an Auster, give me one of those and a 25Kt headwind and Ill get it down and stopped in 50m, quite possibly without putting it in its nose.

Or probably a Skyvan in the right hands - I remember landing with Shorts' CTP

I had the pleasure of riding in the RH seat for a Skyvan demo flight at Abu Dhabi; possibly the same pilot (Mike ???, it was a long time ago, early '70s).. It was parked in the middle of then quite small ( 200m wide?)apron, facing North-West. He started up and reversed to the edge, then applied full power and was airborne well before the far end. He levelled at about 50ft AGL. flew round the back of the terminal building, and touched down on the edge of the apron, stopping in the original starting position in the centre.

(On another day, a French demo pilot demonstrated a Falcon to the assembled Ruling Family and aviation big-wigs, after we had all looked around and admired the aircraft, inside and out. The Ruling Family was very impressed. He started up, taxied out, and took off. At about 50 ft, while the gear was still coming in, he commenced 2 beautifully executed climbing rolls, I guess to show how well it flew. Within minutes the Ruling Family was on the way home in their Mercedes limos, led by Shaikh Zaid muttering "I'm not an idiot; why would I buy a plane that does that sort of thing?")

[QUOTE]

[Asturias56]

Originally Posted by Oilhead

“This runway is very short.”

“Yes but at least it’s very wide.”

I asked a FIGAS Islander pilot if he was ever tempted to take off using the lead-in taxiway and the width of the runway at MPL when there was a cross-wind - he said it had been done in the early days but RAF ATC went BALLISTIC.......................

[JENKINS]

Stanley, FIGAS, many years ago, pitched up as new Islander pilot. Local acceptance very rapid; so rapid that at an early stage I noted wind way out of limits for departure, to be told that there was a cross runway. Don't assume, check!

[Asturias56]

Was that Stanley or MPH? Stanley has 18/36 but never seen anyone use it..................

We were using the easterly taxi way at MPH - its about 300 m from the edge of the apron to the NE side of 28

[707 AF]

Where can we make taxiing shot ?

[olympus]

Originally Posted by Flap40

There was of course the Chipmunk that was discovered parked next to the fence many years ago. Apparently snuck in during the night.

The Chipmunk came from Denham (just a mile or two to the north on the edge of the Zone) and I believe alcohol was involved.

[l.garey]

Originally Posted by vancouv

Don't know about Heathrow, but I remember reading an article about some GA types doing approaches to Gatwick on Xmas day for charity - they may not have landed, just go arounds or touch and gos.

In fact Gatwick was a regular stop for me in the early 1970s to clear customs on our way from Wycombe to wherever in a Cherokee. I sometimes shot an ILS for practice. Never tried to land across the runway though
Laurence