Lundy Island
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: LONDON
QDM is right - the Cessna lined up on the correct runway (27), but the threshold is down an incline so you cannot view the length of the strip. There are also, at this location, no markers to indicate the centre line or sides of the runway. Because it is a rough field you cannot even rely on an area of mowed grass.
The only way to take off down the centreline is to have studied the strip carefully and selected a tuft of grass (or whatever) as an aiming point on the ridge, or to aline the aircraft accurately on the DI/compass (which I wouldn't want to do as the only check ... best to have walked the strip beforehand!)
The Cessna pilot was probably only about 20 degrees off centreline but he wouldn't have been aware until he came over the top.
Incidentally, once you do get over the ridge you then have a row of granite blocks down the right hand side, but for some reason these don't extend down the slope to the threshold. Someone mentioned that Lundy have now installed some form of visual indicator right to the start of the threshold - but I don't know if that is correct.
My view, for what it is worth, is that on their fly-in days they should paint on a temporary white centre line below the ridge as it is all too easy to understand how this poor fellow got it wrong!
The only way to take off down the centreline is to have studied the strip carefully and selected a tuft of grass (or whatever) as an aiming point on the ridge, or to aline the aircraft accurately on the DI/compass (which I wouldn't want to do as the only check ... best to have walked the strip beforehand!)
The Cessna pilot was probably only about 20 degrees off centreline but he wouldn't have been aware until he came over the top.
Incidentally, once you do get over the ridge you then have a row of granite blocks down the right hand side, but for some reason these don't extend down the slope to the threshold. Someone mentioned that Lundy have now installed some form of visual indicator right to the start of the threshold - but I don't know if that is correct.
My view, for what it is worth, is that on their fly-in days they should paint on a temporary white centre line below the ridge as it is all too easy to understand how this poor fellow got it wrong!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 0
From: New South Wales
FWIW, I don't think the Devon Strut should hold a Lundy fly-in.
I didn't get there this year as I was away, but in other years you always see unsuitable pilots in unsuitable aircraft going in. It's a recipe for disaster and the worst thing would be if some idiot has a spectacular crash and kills himself and his (three) passengers in a large ball of flame with the result that Lundy gets shut to visiting pilots like us.
QDM
I didn't get there this year as I was away, but in other years you always see unsuitable pilots in unsuitable aircraft going in. It's a recipe for disaster and the worst thing would be if some idiot has a spectacular crash and kills himself and his (three) passengers in a large ball of flame with the result that Lundy gets shut to visiting pilots like us.
QDM
Better red than ...
Joined: Aug 2004
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 1,415
Likes: 0
From: Appleby-in-Westmorland Cumbria England
Below is a picture of the runway on Lundy (July 05) as seen from the West End.
I usually use the H Pad but grass cutting was going on and Ben did'nt want the Tavern filling up with 6 tonnes of grass.
Given prevailing Westerlies in Devon, a fixed wing would usually be landing from the skyline (as seen) down the hill and into that large rock in the bracken. Also note the windsock and the crosswind component on this day.
If you have landed at Cromer then I would say this is 3X difficulty and 2X on Gigha and 7X on Glenforsa.
For anybody interested, this is a 'high quality, smooth, flat surface' when compared to Jura.
Also, watch out for the deer on the runway .....
h-r
I usually use the H Pad but grass cutting was going on and Ben did'nt want the Tavern filling up with 6 tonnes of grass.
Given prevailing Westerlies in Devon, a fixed wing would usually be landing from the skyline (as seen) down the hill and into that large rock in the bracken. Also note the windsock and the crosswind component on this day.
If you have landed at Cromer then I would say this is 3X difficulty and 2X on Gigha and 7X on Glenforsa.
For anybody interested, this is a 'high quality, smooth, flat surface' when compared to Jura.
Also, watch out for the deer on the runway .....
h-r
Last edited by BRL; 1st September 2005 at 09:20.
Where
Better red than ...
Joined: Aug 2004
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 1,415
Likes: 0
From: Appleby-in-Westmorland Cumbria England
Sorry, I have not been on the advanced photo posting course ...
My thanks to BRL for the sizemoderation
e
My thanks to BRL for the sizemoderation
e
Last edited by helicopter-redeye; 1st September 2005 at 09:23.
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 0
From: New South Wales
re h-r's picture:
If you are landing to the West and you aren't at or near taxying speed by the time you get to the windsock, i.e. on the far side of the hill, you may have an anxious time. It is quite a downslope towards the rock.
Watching people make three or four approaches to get in is a terrific spectator sport, especially when they are trying to land down wind, as I have seen once!
Great place to go for the right aircraft, loaded correctly, in the right conditions with the right pilot.
QDM
If you are landing to the West and you aren't at or near taxying speed by the time you get to the windsock, i.e. on the far side of the hill, you may have an anxious time. It is quite a downslope towards the rock.
Watching people make three or four approaches to get in is a terrific spectator sport, especially when they are trying to land down wind, as I have seen once!
Great place to go for the right aircraft, loaded correctly, in the right conditions with the right pilot.
QDM
Better red than ...
Joined: Aug 2004
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 1,415
Likes: 0
From: Appleby-in-Westmorland Cumbria England
A clear day, with good equipment, I'll be tempted
But last time I had to 'force' the office to accept my payment so who needs a voucher ??
May be some interesting wildlife about in December
h-r
But last time I had to 'force' the office to accept my payment so who needs a voucher ??
May be some interesting wildlife about in December
h-r
