Valdez STOL Competition 2011

[kgwilson]

[dazza 38]

I watched it a few weeks ago.Got to love the VH registered Airvan.Its a good Video, but they have mixed in standard production class A/c, with modified.Modified as in, moving the main undercarriage forward by a few inches.Souped up engines ,bigger flaps that extend alot further that standard, drooping ailerons,leading edge slats etc.It makes the standard class guys take off and landings look realy long, compared to the modified class.

 

 

[Bandit12]

Wow.....a couple of times I was cringing expecting a prop strike from the heavy braking on the tail draggers. And some of the takeoffs seemed to raise the tail under power, get rolling and smack the tail into the ground to lever the main wheels off the ground - that must be so hard on airframes....

 

 

[Neil_S]

Wow - that was interesting flying! Don't think I will be landing the Gazelle like that though

 

Cheers

 

Neil

 

 

[kgwilson]

I wonder what an Australian registered Airvan is doing in a STOL competition in Alaska?

 

 

[Gnarly Gnu]

Nice! Valdez is a lovely spot, was there a couple of months back. The town is rather sad and run down though, I guess with the depressed economy and 30+ feet of snow each year takes its toll. At least no-one tipped over onto their prop this time, that's an expensive blunder when trying to shave a few feet.

 

 

[facthunter]

Pretty much an Alaskan thing with tricked up slats/ flaps fat tyres and souped motors, ( at the extreme). No doubt there is skill involved of the kind that comes with knowing your aircraft's low speed handling characteristics, but I can't imagine watching it for hours. Nev