Approach Video - Fish Lake, Idaho - shortfield.com

[PilotGleb]

I want to fly there one day, it's a nice place for camp

[leeasutherland]

This is the correct technique for Fish Lake. You are asking for a slight chance of joining the vague white outlines that periodically decorate the bottom of the lake if you try and scrape in at the beginning since the valley cycle often has a downdraft at the end of the runway. I've seen 12 knots literally disappear just a few seconds from touchdown there, something that isn't even an issue if you plan to land a little long (it's uphill anyway).

[leeasutherland]

This is the correct technique for Fish Lake. You are asking for a slight chance of joining the vague white outlines that periodically decorate the bottom of the lake if you try and scrape in at the beginning since the valley cycle often has a downdraft at the end of the runway. I've seen 12 knots literally disappear just a few seconds from touchdown there, something that isn't even an issue if you plan to land a little long (it's uphill anyway). You also depart carrying a little extra speed.

[JayJay1990fromwiehl]

this is a better strip than at our local airfield...

[sAINT898]

where is this lake located?

[aviator147]

@sAINT898  fish lake idaho

[sAINT898]

@aviator147 I got that part of it, but the Fish Lake Idaho that I know doesn't have an open area like that to land planes.

[HOMeSKILiT24]

I like approaches over water, I pay attention better. LOL, I dont know what it is that makes me have better landings but throw a lake or 2 before the runway and wow cant tell I landed......... Thats a bumpy runway wow!!

[xylotone0110]

Has anyone landed in Cusco , Perú ? Lan Peru flies there with Aribus 319s and Peruvian airlines with 737 - 300 i think . The terrain is very similar to the Us s rocky mtns , espcially CO and ID ..... Iif you havent travelled to Cusco yet , do it . The airport is at 3400 Mts altitud . About 11000 ft above sea level . And nestled in a valley surrounded by rolling green hills, where the city of Cusco is also located

[worldwidegage]

This is a friend's video from when he first started flying in the backcounty - 10 or 12 years ago. As for the critique of his landing - its a fine landing. I think it may have been his first time in there so he was carrying a little extra altitude for safety. Also, that lake is know for causing a big "sink" when you fly over it and several people have died as a result. So he was probably trying to avoid that too.

Check out more backcountry flying and videos at shortfield com.

[straighttailpilot]

Great flying. Dont listen to the NON bushpilots out there. they just dont know about bushflying. its a completely different world. nice job.

[hemna]

nice landing....love the stall horn as you touch down, that's just right!

[meccabumbleswan]

Nice flying pal

[jmitterii2]

Cessna 172's stall horn going off on round and flare is good. Let's me know I mostly like will not bounce... especially on a soft field landing which are so beautifully smooth... but man that dirt runway there looked bumpy as all get out!

[debiassi]

Sometimes it may be worth remembering that not all pilots fly light aircraft although at some stage they must have. A lot of larger aircraft actually fly onto the runway. Imagine the large jets stall warners or stick shakers going off just prior to touchdown? I think its important for posters to relate the technique to the aircraft mentioned in the clip to avoid confusion as certainly nearly all light G/A aircraft would land with the stall warner sounding

[Nicarider182]

great great landing. Do you think a PC12 could handle that or is it to short?

[ismasamov55]

@Nicarider182 Yes a pc12 could make it in there easily. love all the comments from the flight sim pilots. They are defiantly the ones here who are the experts.

[unclejohn607]

Thanks for the video! - I took a 172XP into fish lake once.... yes, the downdrafts over the lake kinda wake you up. Full stall landings and steep approaches are normal! - some of these youtube armchair pilots just amaze me! - if that stall horn isn't blaring when you're touching down, you're too fast!...?? - I constantly need to remind myself of that....

[ebt15]

Looks good to me...I'd expect a downdraft over a lake anyway, and if you're high, you can always reduce power / add flaps / slip. Not sure what anyone found wrong with 2FL's statement, either. In calm wind, and in most situations involving an unpaved strip, I consider an optimal landing to be one in which the wings stall just as the tires spin up...least amount of energy to dissipate on the runway.

[badkharma101]

Job well done on that strip. Don't listen to the armchair youtube pilots.

[N9602FL]

landings are controlled stalls...

[mikegmbn]

Huge descent rate. I've noticed that stall landings have become extremely popular with youtube pilots.

[jordan8705]

How do you land WITHOUT stalling? The plane has to stop flying at some point (hopefully right around touchdown)...;)

[wero8a1]

@jordan8705

I'm not the pilot but to make a low speed aprox you need to set the flaps at full, I think that the airplane of this videos it is a STOL( short takeoff and landing)

Greetings from mexico!+

[dearthpanda]

@mikegmbn I've noticed arm chair pilots talking about stall horns, but that's about it.

[buyergold]

cold lake. thank you for posting

[fxdwings]

Kind of high?  Nice landing.

[flapsdwn]

Kind of high? In mountain flying (or any other really?), especially with "little things" like the big lake below you, it is always better to go in high with some breathing room and then dump some flaps or slip in it vs going in low and having to drag it in on the throttle and hope you don't loose your engine, ie carb ice up or?

[Doubleddog]

Not too high - it is an uphill strip so there is a visual illusion that makes you think you are high (thus the hazard of flying a too-low approach). It looked pretty good to me

[58harwood]

@fxdwings

Tagging on: Looked unnecessarily high, steep glide slope, for an unobstructed approach over water. Which led to poor speed control,i.e too fast, as evidenced by excessive "floating" and mid-field touch down. All in all, very average, needs more experience.

[straighttailpilot]

@58harwood you fly? I do. I especially fly Mountain strips. this approach and landing looked fine. There is absolutely no reason to cut a short low hanging on the prop approach when there is space. especially at high density altitude airports. Only people that want to constantly show off do this. This is a good safe approach with lots and lots of runway. No need to do a super short landing. save the skill for when you need it.

[straighttailpilot]

@58harwood you fly? I do. I especially fly Mountain strips. this approach and landing looked fine. There is absolutely no reason to cut a short low hanging on the prop approach when there is space. especially at high density altitude airports. Only people that want to constantly show off do this. This is a good safe approach with lots and lots of runway. No need to do a super short landing. save the skill for when you need it.

[straighttailpilot]

@58harwood yeah you need to read worldwidegage again. sink and death. hmmm. i dont think you can flaw this landing really. you dont understand. I dont just fly. I specialize on bushflying. PLENTY of runway. you cannot flaw this approach or landing because he chose to fly safe. I do not understand how you can flaw it. and I have met pilots that have been flying for twice as long as me that Suck too! its not about the hours bud. its about the experience and stick and rudder.

[straighttailpilot]

@58harwood Pilots constantly WASTE space below and space behind. these pilots are usually the ones that get killed. if there is no need for a low approach why do it? give me one good reason. there isn't. Even Sparky Imeson said that Hanging a plane on the prop was a foolish thing to do if it wasn't needed. (I have met maybe 5 people in my life that can hang a plane on the prop. including myself) that is what I am getting at . If its not needed why push it? cannot flaw the approach.

[58harwood]

@straighttailpilot ROTFLMAO!

[straighttailpilot]

@58harwood hehehe. im glad youre having fun!