Heavy aircraft on natural surfaces?

[John Hill]

This may be a silly question but I will ask anyway...

There is a group who wish to return an ex-Air New Zealand 747-400 and position it at the town of Wanaka where it would form part of a museum and possibly an accommodation venture.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/air-n ... ZKLQ6FUDU/

I understand the aircraft could be flown to NZ and the intention is to land at Christchurch and road transport to Wanaka, a journey of about 500kms.

The runway at Wanaka is far too short at 1200m x 300m and presumably low bearing strength.

However there is considerable flat agricultural land in the area and my question is 'Just how naïve would it be to suggest a temporary, one use only, runway be prepared to accept a minimum weight 747-400?'

[G-CPTN]

Is one allowed to load the 747 with helium?


And what about the use of skis?

[John Hill]

Is one allowed to load the 747 with helium?

No but we have a high pressure budgie breeding program already underway.


Skis, now that might be worth consideration.

[llondel]

They could probably get a 747 down on a 1200m runway if they took the seats out. They used to land the BA 747s at Cambridge, which is 1900m, for maintenance. However, if it's soft it might not do too well.

On the other hand, they did land (deadstick, too) and then fly out a 737 from a levee near New Orleans once, so there is precedent for a lot of weight on an unprepared surface. Do it at the height of summer when the ground is hard.

[John Hill]

The existing runway is presumably of low bearing strength as I understand it will require work before handling ATR72 aircraft.

[Pontius Navigator]

It would help braking.

[Boac]

JH - is this the same project as viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6071 ? If so, which topic should we post on?

[Rwy in Sight]

Aren't the dimensions of the runway a bit wrong width wise?

[John Hill]

JH - is this the same project as viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6071 ? If so, which topic should we post on?

I seem to have confused this somewhat. I had intended the other topic to be a pointer to this one but it has not worked out that way...