Pilot DAR 23-Nov-12 01:58 #11 Some aircraft are not idea on uncertain surfaces, and there's a lot to lose when you get it wrong. I think of the DA-42 I stuck in 3 inches of slush, on pavement....
I have a few tricks I use on suspect surfaces, which are borne of mud and snow flying. As can be seen on my photo, I had run two passes along the beach for about 2 miles before deciding to land and stop on it. The first pass was one main wheel only, which if it is too soft, allows you to pull the wheel back out(up) before you're committed. The next run was two wheels, and the tracks are visible. Progressively feel the surface, being very attuned to a pitch force, which equates to a softer surface>
I took the easy method and went for a walk on the beach with the girlfriend and dogs in the morning before I landed. While walking along the sand she noted how surprised she was that I wanted to go for the walk instead of “pissing about with that effing plane” and pointed out how beautiful the views were and how nice the dunes looked, my head was firmly facing the ground with one thought in mind, specifically “what a nice smooth, hard surface this is for landing” after getting back in the Land Rover she suggested a we go to the drive thru at MacDonald’s for a cappuccino, unfortunately I never heard her as at this point I had mentally pulled the power back and was dropping the last notch of flaps with the darkest strip of sand picked out as my centreline, her short sharp admonishment about me being an ignorant bastard and ignoring her aborted my imaginary beach landing for a few moments. Upon dropping me off at the strip she asked what I had planned for the day to which I casually replied “oh nothing in particular” 5 minutes later it was throttle to the firewall back over to the coast for my much rehearsed beach landing.
And yes Peter I agree, we are privileged to be able to do this type of flying
Some aircraft are not idea on uncertain surfaces, and there's a lot to lose when you get it wrong. I think of the DA-42 I stuck in 3 inches of slush, on pavement....
I have a few tricks I use on suspect surfaces, which are borne of mud and snow flying. As can be seen on my photo, I had run two passes along the beach for about 2 miles before deciding to land and stop on it. The first pass was one main wheel only, which if it is too soft, allows you to pull the wheel back out(up) before you're committed. The next run was two wheels, and the tracks are visible. Progressively feel the surface, being very attuned to a pitch force, which equates to a softer surface.
Finally, once a "runway" is defined, you can land and stop, leaving enough of your tested runway in front of you to takeoff on later.
Then you have until the rising tide to visit there.....
Well Peter you could land, taking off could be a problem though!
It's a great privilege to be able to do this kind of flying.
But I wonder if one could really do it with a 1400kg TB20 with the relatively small wheels common on those types?
I get easily bogged down in wet grass, and once needed a 4x4, with ropes around the main gears, to get pulled out (at Southend, parked in front of what was WillowAir).
Thanks from me, also, Peter.
How can I get the picture to show, rather than its URL?
See my reply to PilotDAR.
You can use the Image button, or you can just paste the direct link to the image, which in your case is
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b132/GZK6NK/SLVL0410res.jpg
into your post in the following format
Either way does the same thing.
If doing the latter method, carefully note the square and round brackets!
Good fun innit! Here's me in our Chippy about to land on Southport beach for the air show, elder daughter in the back.
Picture copyright Steve Le Vien
Thanks Peter!
Done 
To use a pic from the Imgur photo site you need what they call the Direct Link which in this case was
[]()
Then, place the cursor on a blank line in your post, press the Image button, paste that URL into the box which pops up and click OK. I think you did that correctly; just the URL which was used was this one
[]()
which was not what you want.
A useful tip for picture insertion is to test the URL by opening a new browser window and putting it in the URL box and seeing what you get. You should see just the image by itself; no frame, no text, no adverts, etc.
Ahhh, satisfying, isn't it!
[fixed]
