Posted on 11/21/2013 5:47:03 AM PST by george76
A Boeing Dreamlifter cargo jet, with a cargo hold among the largest by volume, accidentally landed at the wrong airport in Kansas Wednesday night, and was unable to take off due to the short runway. According to KWCH News, this type of plane requires 9,200 feet to take off whereas the runway at the airport is only 6,101 feet.
(Excerpt) Read more at twitchy.com ...
Taking off from Islip a pilot mentioned to me that the short runway was no problem at all, “If were not off the ground by the end of the runway I just lift up the gear before hitting the curb”
It’s not a myth. I’ve got the video right here for ya!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y92NgQxg8BQ
Get the ARMY units that build runway’s in the middle of nowhere out there to make a temporary extension
This is not like a botched website design ?
Well, first you have to say, “Hold muh beer!”
Pilots are known for their drinking skills.
...one morning I woke up to find an extremely large cargo jet parked at a SMALL civil airport across from the hotel I was staying at...
...it sat there several days, trucks were seen unloading the cargo...
...one morning at breakfast, I saw a couple of guys that were there to unload the cargo...
...I asked them what they were gonna do?...
...they told me to make sure I came out that night around 1:00am to watch it take off, should be interesting!...
...I asked if they brought in a crazy pilot to fly the thing out?...
...they laughed and said...
..."Oh NO! Corporate has a rule"...
..."You land it, You take it back off!...
...it was pretty wild to see that big thing screaming down that little runway that night!...
I wouldn’t think it’d be much in the way of trial and error...
math would tell you if it’d work or not.
Lots of variables, though - wind speed and direction, weight, thrust of primaries + JATO...
It needs 9200 feet fully loaded. They’re going to unload the cargo and drain most of the fuel. It should make it without any problems then. Takeoff is scheduled for about noon.

Pilot: I think we're gonna need a bigger runway.
I'd bet you an unloaded 787 with minimal fuel can easily take off in 6000 ft. The problem is, they'll have no margin for error. Very early in the takeoff roll they will be committed to flying or crashing - no room to abort and stop. So they're going to need an FAA ok to violate about a dozen regs, and find a couple of pilots with a whole lot of confidence in themselves and their aircraft...
Do you feel lucky, punk? Well, do ya?
Googlemaps shows how Wichata and KC are just peppered with airports.”
You really need to visit flyover country more often. Wichita used to be a huge manufacturing site for private aircraft and most everyone that lived anywhere near there worked in some phase of that industry. I do believe at one time they manufactured more than half of all of the light general aviation and private jets. City is really hurting now thanks to Obama. Kansas was also home to Amelia Earhart. Lots of flight schools and small aircraft.
Was this operated by Atlas?
MrB
You maybe correct but think about how it has stopped the migration of the Californians further east from the front range of CO?
MFO
9,200 feet is just a suggestion - a skilled pilot with an empty plane can easily do it in half that. Go for it!!
Operated by Boeing.
Good observation... An “ugly barrier” to keep the libs from infesting ks.
This shouldn’t be a problem, all of Kansas is as flat as a pancake dang whole state is practically one big airport.
You forgot the part about a 500 foot carrier deck.
Doolittle could do it & laugh at 6000 feet.
It’s supposed to take off at noon after the cargo is removed.
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/npr.php?id=246498844
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