koolan island landing STOL cessna 206

[61Bennie]

I worked on Koolan in 1961. On the right of the strip there was a wrecked Pioneer aircraft blown off the strip during a cyclone. Same type of plane we flew up there on. Pioneer as built in Scotland I think, it was for very short landings and take off. A bit like going up in a lift, 2-300m run and straight up. Pilot liked to take off loaded up the direction you came in and drop down to sea level to get up some speed. Those pilot were all crazy then. I have quite a few photos /slides from there.

[Aussiejet]

what Vref were u doing?

[jopys55b]

I lived on Kooland Island back in 1983

stayed only for a year and loved it.

lived right across the road from the school.

Step dad was a Fireman.

[Gareths80]

Well sadly there is not alot to Kooland now days. There is a mining villiage and thats about it.

[rcichella]

Beatiful landing my friend. What speed do you hold on that approach?? And just before touch down??

I once flew a 206 and really felt it was kind of tricky to fly.

[Gareths80]

I think it was somewhere in the region of about 60 knots. That was a STOL 206.

[lorddingo555]

Very nicely done!

[flipicrit]

i made that same landing about 70 times in my 6 yrs there from 82 to 87

[rascaelres]

yes, that is a perfect STOL landing

[instg8or]

i grew up on koolan thru the 80s but regretefully hav no photos or vids, do u hav any footage of pre 90s before it closed down???

[Gareths80]

unfortunately I do not have an pics or vids during that time. My farther used to fly in there during the 70's though.

[bwuuci]

Can you tell me the ICAO of the airport?

[Gareths80]

ICAO code is YKLI

[bwuuci]

was that a stall on touch down?

[Gareths80]

no that wasnt a stall onto the runway. It was a perfect touchdown for a STOL landing though. i was aiming to put it down on that white mark you can see on the runway.