SuperSTOL Fletcher

[K5054NZ]

Hi all!



I recently stumbled across a report and some images of trials conducted at Ardmore, in 1958, with a Fletcher FU-24 performing short take-off and landing trials.....BETWEEN HANGARS!?



Yes, the Government of the time reportedly authorised it (a letter enquiring about the results from the Ministry Of Transport was with the images I found), but jeez it would take some guts!





Apparently this was carried out to test the Fletcher's STOL capabilities in case Bennet Aviation or Beagle-Auster - producers of the rival Airtruck and Agricola respectively - should conduct guerilla attacks to disable Air Parts' Hamilton base runway...

[Ian Warren]

Only you Zac , .. old black and white .... little like the old "Airline Review" of the period

[Daniel]

Great Pics Zac Great Fun flying Fletchers!
How were the Take offs and landings?
I see on the last picture that parking brakes are on! Did you land with them on

Cheers
Daniel

[creator2003]

ive always liked black and white shots ,but ive never found any reason to use the filter , awesome stuff dude and nice storyline to boot

[K5054NZ]

Thanks gents, I aim to please!

Dan, um yeah! The damn thing takes forever to stop, so I used the brake to try and arrest my landing. I didn't want to try landing the same way as using just the tarmac would've meant destruction of a hangar or two! Luckily the Fletcher's legendary climb performance meant I got about 50ft on the hangar after liftoff!

Very very fun half hour, did about six cycles. Once forgot to use the park brake and wondering why I kept coasting along! :S Great fun tho. Highly recommend it! Gonna try now with the Walter....

And in case you want to try, it's the tarmac behind the Warbirds hangar....I'm not sure which scenery I'm using but there were Harvards nearby (Love heart)

[K5054NZ]

And so:







These shots show the sort of clearance you get when flying this operation.

Not a bad machine, but I prefer flying the old 400 . Fond memories of watching three of them at airshows, and constantly CONSTANTLY flying over home.

[Anthony]

The black and white shots are nice, but the filter makes them appear very noisy. Great shots though

I also like the third colour pic especially, great angle.

Cheers
Anthony Harris

[Daniel]

More Great Pics Zac!
I prefer the Walter powered Fletcher (except you can only apply the power very slowly) More power through
Your right the fletchers have great lift/climb performance.
I really like picture 3 climbing out
Love to see more

Happy Simming
Daniel

[K5054NZ]

Well I can always post some pics of my striphopping trips! Flying Hamilton - Wanganui via Te Kuiti and Taumarunui I came across tons! Great fun. I love landing uphill!

I guess you'd better stay tuned!