Escort N3 Ultra City Strip

[HansH]

Looking for the length and width of this strip.
Any opinions as to the feasibility of Cubby's using it?

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Check with the Rietties boys. Should not be a problem. Have seen odd Cheetah and others in there....

[Morph]

28°55'26.92"S 29°47'1.05"E

Check it on Google Earth. Which side do they use. On the eastern side, i.e. the towards durban side, the longest I can see is about 250meters by 15 meters on the Southern end

[georgeh]

Not sure about a Cubby, but i landed there with my Shadow, 10m wingspan. Coming in South to North is a lot easier than one would expect. There are tall lampposts on the eastern side, ie Durdan bound carriageway and nearest the buildings, halfway down on the western edge is quite a large drain, above ground. I would say there is probably at lest 20 to 25m of safe space on the width. Getting out was another story. North to south is slightly uphill and with longish grass i would never have got out, so it was downhill, downwind and OMG it was SCARY SHIT. Would love to go there again, but the runway i think is more suited to Trikes.

[James Bentley]

I have not landed there before and would have reservations about doing it unless in emergency

Having said that, many Microlighters have done so quite safely!!!

The length is in the order of 350 to 400m, about 20m wide bordered by lamp posts on the edges and a large Shell sign on the Northern end.

[ZULU1]

Great place to land, and certainly easier than carrying fuel cans.

Anyway James, some very good history in the immediate area..sorry best in a trike..

The Armoured train incident in which Sir Winston Churchill was captured, very easy to get to, fly along the N3 towards Jhb, and take the Colenso turn off, follow the road, no power lines so can fly IFR and see the monument and many graves both sides of the railway line. Not possible by road. He was captured by Boers and Italian mercenaries led by Cammillo Ricchiardi who also blew up the Frere Bridge. Fly back towards the N3 and the N3 side of the small town. There are many British graves in the veldt here, the bridge is still in the same condition as when it was blown up.

I lived in Ladysmith for two years and really sniffed out the history..more next week !!

Enjoy

Zulu1

[HansH]

Thanks for the info guys. Also thanks for the PM Carl. Seems like the T/O side of things could be marginal.