Roads as runways.
Coming out of Changi on the East Coast Parkway, there is an emergency runway, with removable flower planters in the centre of the road. I don't know if it has ever been used. It looks like the palm trees and lights would have to go to make it usable.
Last edited by India Four Two; 23rd Apr 2013 at 03:02.
Don't know if anybody took it to quite the extremes the Swedes did, who even troubled themselves with fitting nose-gear brakes on their primary interceptor.
The Viggen was designed specifically to be operated from roads and motorways around Sweden; in fact page 1, chapter 1, of the Swedish defence plan said "Disperse at once".
They got themselves an aircraft with truly remarkable performance for the effort, astonishing for a 1960s design.
Now that's what I'd call a decent set of anchors!
The Viggen was designed specifically to be operated from roads and motorways around Sweden; in fact page 1, chapter 1, of the Swedish defence plan said "Disperse at once".
They got themselves an aircraft with truly remarkable performance for the effort, astonishing for a 1960s design.
Now that's what I'd call a decent set of anchors!
Last edited by SMT Member; 23rd Apr 2013 at 08:47.
Superb jet, the Viggen. I remember seeing it at the 1969 Paris Air Show and I'm still surprised that no other country bought it.
Superior to the F-4, I gather....
And one of the only known fighters to achieve missile lock against the SR-71...
Superior to the F-4, I gather....
And one of the only known fighters to achieve missile lock against the SR-71...
Last edited by BEagle; 23rd Apr 2013 at 19:16.
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RS15 - re the hillside hangers at Split. A few years ago we often saw the resident MiG-21's taxi out, down the back road to the west end of the airport, through a crash gate and straight into the takeoff roll. They would wazz up north to Pula for the day and wander back late afternoon.
It looks like the palm trees and lights would have to go to make it usable.
To be honest it probably isn't any harder than making the city centre into a Grand Prix circuit.
I lived in sweden for enalry three eyars and worlked very close to the Bararby base notrth of stockholm. Openly an airbase but with some seriously hidden and protected (ie dug into rock) hangers. During one of the early 90 Russian instability periods they deployed two Viggen(?) squadrons there - very spectacular but within 15 minutes they had all vanished into the forest.
Also several times found myself on wide straight roads with runway type markings in various parts of the country. Went to several airshows and the short landing and reverse demo from the home made SAABs was always a feature .
God knows what developing Mach 2 fighters did to the Swedish economy with only about 8m people.
I did see something vaguely similar in UK once in the west county but could not remember where-I know we were on hols down there and driving a around came across this odd straight road with lots of space either side and lots of sheltering trees well back from it-mind you it looked a lot more WW2 vintage than cold war.
Also several times found myself on wide straight roads with runway type markings in various parts of the country. Went to several airshows and the short landing and reverse demo from the home made SAABs was always a feature .
God knows what developing Mach 2 fighters did to the Swedish economy with only about 8m people.
I did see something vaguely similar in UK once in the west county but could not remember where-I know we were on hols down there and driving a around came across this odd straight road with lots of space either side and lots of sheltering trees well back from it-mind you it looked a lot more WW2 vintage than cold war.
I was in N Sweden in 1984-5? for a short visit, seeing friends.
Driving back one morning from an overnight sauna/party we saw a flight of Viggins ahead, manouvering, very low, "Viggins" I said, "you like Viggins"? my friend said, "lets go visit them"
Twenty minutes later we drove up to the base, cursory examination of credentials (he was in the Reserve and they knew him), and onto the dispersal area, introductions, shown the tech area where they were downloading the data tapes, shown engine data where there was in increase in temperature after an "event", correlated said event with a 9+g turn at 80 m. !!!
"Engine overstressed, needs to be pulled"..."will the pilot get a bolloking" I asked, "Oh no, he's the Squadron Leader, no problem".
I saw much more but it still might be sensitive, fantastic experience !!!
f
Driving back one morning from an overnight sauna/party we saw a flight of Viggins ahead, manouvering, very low, "Viggins" I said, "you like Viggins"? my friend said, "lets go visit them"
Twenty minutes later we drove up to the base, cursory examination of credentials (he was in the Reserve and they knew him), and onto the dispersal area, introductions, shown the tech area where they were downloading the data tapes, shown engine data where there was in increase in temperature after an "event", correlated said event with a 9+g turn at 80 m. !!!
"Engine overstressed, needs to be pulled"..."will the pilot get a bolloking" I asked, "Oh no, he's the Squadron Leader, no problem".
I saw much more but it still might be sensitive, fantastic experience !!!
f
Driving back one morning from an overnight sauna/party....
) in a pleasing state of undress.....
The only aircraft I ever saw in Sweden were J-29 Tunnen from Ängelholm when on a family holiday in Båstad in the early 1960s....
Jaguar on motorway
The jag on the motorway was one of the development fleet at Warton. The place was Weeton (ring a bell) on the yet to be opened M55 around 1974ish. I was there and refused to be moved on as I was an 'employee' and witnessed the landing and take off.
Australian roads were mentioned earlier: the Nullabor has substantial straight stretches which have been surveyed and marked for RFDS (Flying Doctor) operations, mostly King Airs. The local plods are trained in preparing the road (remove signs, stop traffic, etc) and this is what you see every few hundred kms:
The daunting thing about the trip isn't the distance in itself, but arriving on the bike at the beginning to hear the GPS pipe up: "in 1,200 kilometres make a left turn"
The daunting thing about the trip isn't the distance in itself, but arriving on the bike at the beginning to hear the GPS pipe up: "in 1,200 kilometres make a left turn"
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could