Friendly Fly-In Breakfast, Challenging Approach and departur
Flew here today for their annual fly-in breakfast. It's a gravel strip, with a well-compacted chip surface. In all the years of doing a breakfast, we were told this was only the second time they needed to use R12.
The approach to R12 was challenging, in the that topography on final is quite high. Stay focused on the runway and not the topography under your feet. Manage your speed and use full flaps. Consider a short-field approach profile, just so you're focused on getting the wheels down early. If you decide to reject the landing, make your decision earlier since the departure is also quite "fun".
Departing R12 is not that challenging. Unless you are light, high-powered, or have a STOL a/c, you'll do a normal takeoff but then turn SE (as stated in the CFS) and fly over the town as you gain altitude. Start the departure run on the grass before the R12 runway threshold, so your a/c is moving and there is less chance of sucking up a stone chip into the backside of your prop.
And in-between the landing and the departure, Bancroft is an attractive town with friendly people.
Log in to leave a comment