The Fabled SABA airstrip....

[Jakeman214]

In a BAe Hawk 100.  A spritely little trainer, but not really an STOL rated aircraft.  HOWEVER, I am a crazy fool who loves this little bird, and I thought I could do it.  So without further ado, may I present the Hawk at SABA!


"So who's idea was it to send us out to the West Indies for STOL Training?  I'm only a reserve pilot, and I'm flying the worlds best light jet trainer.  Oh well, may as well have some fun with it!"


"Oh look!  FISHIES!  Hah, I'm so glad I stowed away my rod and reel in the starboard munitions pod!"


"Oh Gods, and I thought Scotland was bad......"


"Yaaaaar! X marks the spot, I hope...."


"Whew!!!  Stopped with about 30 feet to go before I was swimming..."


"Ok, fuel flow cut, master switch off, battery off.  Now, I just need my rod, and my little gas burner and pan and I'll be having fish for lunch!  Who ever said hawks can't fish?"
(I had to shrink this one, silly upload limits...)



Thanks for looking, and comments welcome!

[Dickert]

So what is the speed across the numbers for that "little bird"?  Nice short feild landing... 

[Jakeman214]

The BAe Hawk has a maximum airspeed of 560 knots, landing speed is 100-120 knots, and the stall speed is 70 knots.  I touched down at roughly 105 knots, fighting hard against the stick at about 1/4 throttle, full flaps and spoiler deployed.  I wasn't worried about crashing, I was worried about running out of runway!  Kinda like landing on a carrier, you have to be ready to go to full power and pull up, except you don't have 50 feet to fall and recover from.  When I touched down, I hard park brakes on and spoiler out, engines cut, hoping the Hawk would stop in time!

Also, I did take off from the airstrip afterwards, and I did make it up at about the 3/4 mark on the runway.

For reference, this is the DSB Designs BAe Hawk 100, available from right here at simviation as freeware.