how on earth did a runway 50ft from a beach get approved???? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NemEIFQgMVo&mode=related&search= i can't imagine how nutty that would be to be there in person...
Famous airport in the Carribbean. There are signs on the beach warning that the jet blast may cause injury.
I'll let you know tomorrow when I fly in there! 7am flight. It's a little nerve wracking flying into that airport, you're looking out the window and all you see is water. At the very LAST minute, you see the ground and land. It's in St. Martin. The runway at St. Thomas is very similar.
Yep, St. Martin. I've sat there in that same exact place watching those come in. It's crazy. Much more interesting is the beach right there--clothing optional
Go here: http://airliners.net/search/photo.search?sort_order=views+desc&nr_of_photos=1032270 Lots of cool pics of this. Lots of cool pics anyway. RMX
Jim , we want a pic of you in a ferrari shirt hanging on the fence and getting vertical in the jet blast. Jano and I will pay $20 ea.
That particular airport is bad because it has a comparatively short runway (7000') for a jet; no doubt due to limited real estate on an island. Usually, the desired touchdown point is about 500-1000' down the runway, so as you come in "over the fence", you may be at 50-100' altitude or so if the runway starts just after the fence, which that one does. With a short runway, pilots tend to touchdown earlier on the runway, which means the altitude at the fence will be that much lower. San Jose airport (SJC) has a major freeway, often packed with slow moving cars during rush hour, 100' away from its perimeter fence. However, you usually don't see a low approach overhead because the touchdown point is displaced well inside the perimeter. So it has as much to do with how the airport defines its runway real estate use as how the local government zones surrounding land use.
That beach would be tons of fun to hang out on for an afternoon. Put some big headphones onto the iPod, crank the tunes and sit back watching the planes fly right overhead! Terry
Yes, Maho Beach. Many a topless sunbather there just next to the bar at the end of the beach. I've yet to see a fully nekkid one there, though. Next time down, I need to get over to Orient Beach.
GF went to St-Maarten a few years ago. I saw some pics and the airport was pretty similar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCBUYsRTO48&search=st%20maarten
It's nothing like St. Martin But landing at the old Hong Kong airport was am amazing sight too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBS1Pn9au9Q&search=Kai%20Tak%20airport%20
St. Martin and St. Maarten are the same place. The island is half French (St. Martin) and half Dutch (St. Maarten).
Why don't they have jet blast deflectors there?? Even Midway uses them, and the surrounding area is for crap!
slightly OT but has anyone flown out of John wayne in orange county??? the houses are soooooo tightly packed near the runway as soon as the wheels come up there is a very aggresive nose up to get the noise away from the houses asap. it is quite an experience. the pilots usually tell you before takeoff to be ready for it!
Agreed - very scary, one end you come in steep over the hills and it appears you will be landing on a subdivision while the other end it seems your hitting the water. Reagan is no fun either with the new air corridor restrictions. You weave down the river and make a sharp turn right on final, I think about the accident were that jet hit the bridge in winter every time I fly in there.
Maho Beach. I plan to go there, that is an awsome place to be if your an as much as an Air Plane nut as I am.
Check this thread out, its pretty much why people love Maho Beach so much. Not many boobs. Airbuses, Boeings, Boobs, Babes and Beer at the SXM beach
Engine strike. A 747 went off the end of the runway there too. Good thing they closed it. I'm amazed there were no deaths. I have some videos of insane crosswind landings. I'll see if I can dig them up.
