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Flight Simulation

The Shorts 360 and the Juancho E. Yrausquin (SAB) airport.

In the unhinged virtual flights section of my blog (https://francoisouellet.ca/en/flight-simulation/unhinged-virtual-flights/), you can now find a flight with the Shorts 360 between the St.Maartens (Princess Juliana Intl) airport and the Juancho E. Yrausquin (SABA, SAB or TNCS) airport.

The Shorts 360 at the Princess Juliana Intl, ready for take-off for the Juancho E. Yrausquin airport.
The Shorts 360 at the Princess Juliana Intl, ready for take-off for the Juancho E. Yrausquin airport.

The Juancho E. Yrausquin is normally used by a DHC-6, a BN-2 and some helicopters.

The Shorts 360 is airborne from the Princess Juliana Intl airport.
The Shorts 360 is airborne from the Princess Juliana Intl airport.

The island is in sight…

The Shorts 360 and the Saba island in sight.
The Shorts 360 and the Saba island in sight.

The official landing and take-off distances required for the Shorts 360 are longer than what the Juancho E. Yrausquin (SAB), with its 1299 ft short runway, has to offer.

But for the flight simulation enthousiast (FSX), SABA offers an interesting challenge since a very well adjusted approach, at about 90 knots, is necessary in order to use only the authorized part of the runway.

Le Shorts 360 and the SABA island.
Le Shorts 360 and the SABA island.

Runway 12 in sight, on the extreme left side of the photo. The speed and altitude are adjusted.

The approach is made on runway 12. The winds blow from 180/07. The approach is made with full flaps.

The Shorts 360 is on short final for runway 12 at the Juancho E. Yrausquin airport.
The Shorts 360 is on short final for runway 12 at the Juancho E. Yrausquin airport.
The Shorts 360 is about to land at the SABA airport.
The Shorts 360 is about to land at the SABA airport.

The aircraft is immobilized within the authorized portion of the runway. The rest of the runway is used to turn around and head for the apron.

The Shorts 360 after its landing on runway 12 at the Juancho E. Yrausquin airport.
The Shorts 360 after its landing on runway 12 at the Juancho E. Yrausquin airport.
The Shorts 360 is exiting runway 12 at the Juancho E. Yrausquin airport.
The Shorts 360 is exiting runway 12 at the Juancho E. Yrausquin airport.
The Shorts 360 is parked at the Juancho E. Yrausquin airport.
The Shorts 360 is parked at the Juancho E. Yrausquin airport.

The Shorts 360 can also barely leave the airport using the authorized portion of the runway. The speed on take-off varies between 100 and 110 kts and the flaps are adjusted to 2/3.

Have a good flight!

Categories
Flight Simulation

Flight simulation : Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, the shortest commercial runway in the world (FSX)

One nice challenging virtual flight in FSX is to operate from the Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, the shortest commercial runway in the world.

The runway is 1299 ft long (396m) and 60 ft (18m) above sea level. The IATA code is SAB, and the ICAO code TNCS.

30314 A Twin Otter aircraft is on long final for Saba (FSX)
30314 A Twin Otter aircraft is on long final for Saba (FSX)

30315 A Twin Otter aircraft is on short final for Saba (FSX)
30315 A Twin Otter aircraft is on short final for Saba (FSX)

The ideal virtual aircraft for that runway is the Twin Otter (DHC-6) or the Britten Islander (BN-2). If you want something bigger, the De Havilland DHC-7 is going to be your perfect choice. Forget about jet aircrafts, the runway is too short.

30316 A last correction for the wind in Saba (FSX)
30316 A last correction for the wind in Saba (FSX)

To add to the pleasure, use runway 30 and add a strong crosswind component, with gusts. In the screen captures below, I set the winds to 030 degrees at 10G20. For the flight, I also used Cumulus X and  PrecipitFX to improve the visual effects.

30317 A Twin Otter aircraft is arriving in Saba (FSX)
30317 A Twin Otter aircraft is arriving in Saba (FSX)

30320 A Royal Tongan Twin Otter aircraft is leaving the runway in Saba (FSX)
30320 A Royal Tongan Twin Otter aircraft is leaving the runway in Saba (FSX)

For an even more realistic experience, I suggest you get the FlyTampa St.Maarten scenery, which will offer you three airports, which are all very well designed and present real challenging approaches : the Juancho E. Yrausquin airport, on Saba Island,the spectacular St.Barths airport and the Princess Juliana international airport in St.Maarten.

In the « challenging virtual flights » section of my website, I have already included an approach to Princess Juliana airport in St.Maarten, with the MD-11. The approach to St.Barths (TFFJ) will soon be included.

You will enjoy every minute trying to make perfect landings at those three airports. For other challenging virtual flights, visit the flight simulation page of my website.

Have fun!

For more articles on flight simulation on my web site, click on the following link : Flight simulation