Beach landing
 

Hi,

After a trip to Australia, where i drove on the beach with a 4x4, being overtaken by a landing aircraft, I started wondering if there are any beach airfields in Europe. I found at least one - Barra airport. Does anyone know of more such airfields around Europe, or anyone have beach landing experiences to share?

Cheers

JP

I cant help you but one of the local operators does beach landings on masons bay, stewart island and they always carry the shovel and some planks of wood just in case. Its a matter of dig the exit, place the boards and unleash the almighty lycoming horses, leave the boards behind - they are still growing trees! Judging by how easy it is to get stuck on a beach in a car I think its worth while checking a beach condition before going there, the sand surface can be very deceiving!

Sollas, North Uist
Southport beach (used to be a licensed aerodrome)
Middleton Sands, Lancs
Loganair air ambulance Islanders also used to land on the beach at Northton, Harris, from time to time

Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
 

Away back in the days of prohibition, a daredevil barnstormer landed on Atlantic City beach to offer joyrides in his Wright Flyer to the admiring crowds.

My Uncle was the Mayor, C.D. White. I still have a photo of him sitting in the aircraft before takeoff, chomping his big cigar and looking quite relaxed. His wife wouldn't speak to him for a week....

I've landed on both Middleton Sands and Barra, plus another Scottish beach which isn't officially an airfield but did the job fine.

For stunning scenery and a fantastic flying experience, go to Barra. For a relatively easy first experience of landing on a beach, take a picnic to Middleton Sands.

And set QNH for landing!

G

beach landings are great, just a little tip though. Don't sit stationary with the engine running for any period of time, best to shut down while rolling and do your power checks while rolling, otherwise you stand a high chance of getting stuck as the wheels wobble down into the sand. Also a good idea to minimize sand erosion on your prop.

To truly experience the thrill of beach landings - and takeoffs - there is nothing to beat the thrill of joining with both Northern Ireland and Irish gliding clubs on their Sept. safari to the Dingle Penninsula, where depending on the wind direction, either INCH BEACH or FERMOYLE STRAND is used. The gliders are lined up, the rope is tied to a car, and off they go, flat out, the glider ascends, releases, and soars the sea cliffs.

They have to make haste at the end of the day to remove the toys before the tide comes in. Once while I was there, one of the vehicles had got stuck in the sand, and it was next day before a tractor could rescue it. Conversation that night in the pub discussing what to do with the car concluded the best plan was to pressure wash it inside and out, thoroughly, and sell it as soon as possible......

Try to get to this fly-in in 2011. Lots of fun, fish and chips.
YouTube - LANCASHIRE LANDING Pilling Sands 2010 (Northern Aviators)

Have landed on Barra, great fun and not particularly demanding **BUT** fully echo trex's comments - for a few minutes we were afraid we would lose our a/c as it repeatedly sank into soft sand (on an out-of-hours departure) and we had to enlist the help of a cockle-picker to help us save it. I kid you not.

Where is it that the RAF land C130s on a beach (as featured on Top Gear a few years ago)?

Pendine Sands in South Wales.

One thing...make sure your aeroplane will start again :} I heard of a story of some people landing on a sand bar, and it was great until they couldn't get the thing started again and ran the battery down, with the tide coming in.....oops :}

As a Belgian, you might find some interest in Tour de Belgique ULM 2007

or in this photo, from an previous edition of the same event:
http://www.asa-be.com/images/PhotoGa...F01/OO-F22.jpg

AFAIK the exploit was not repeated after 2007.

Check out La Rochelle on French/Spanish border - they used/have an organised beach airport in the summer months

Vintagemaember
As well as Pendine Sands they also use the western end of Cefn Siden beach where RAF Pembrey Range is located.
There are two photos at this link of a C-130 and C-160 on the beach.
Steve

AeroResource.co.uk • Home to the Aviation Enthusiast •

La Rochelle? on French/Spanish border ? 163NM north, at a quick glance. Not far, of course, looking on from 35.000' ...

I've landed on a few Scottish and Norfolkshire beaches in a helicopter. A couple of years ago I landed at the airfield on Colonsay. As I landed a STOL fixed wing took off from the adjacent, (short) beach. Plus Ca Change.

h-r;)

Use great caution landing on beaches, but done successfully, it's really satisfying.

You'll see the wheel marks from my first pass, which was done to assure a suitably firm surface over the required distance, before comitting on the second landing. The same preplanning is also appropriate when landing skis on unbroken snow.

That is an island of the coast of Georgia, which is not easily accessible from the mainland.

http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...orgiabeach.jpg

Dont ask how I know - but take it from me:

1) Always "drag" the beach first at 30-40kts and go around to assess the depth of your tire tracks- then land.

2) Never land a beach forming part of an estuary

3) Beaches facing the ocean/sea are best

4) Beware of strong Xwinds and steep sidesloping beaches in taildraggers

All good fun, but very easy to make an expensive embarrassing mistake! :ok: