Impressive approach - really "dropping it in"

[JimC]

This is a pretty impressive approach by a straight 500 still flying in the islands. When you can see the top of the fuselage from the ground, you know it's a steep approach.

I've been to this island many times, but I've never flown in. Special certification & training is required before landing here. The peak of the hill is about 200ft.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3OUt0CVGo8&t=377s

Here's a view from inside an Aztec on approach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7-B5zaOTZQ

[donv]

500 series is the perfect airplane for that mission. Lots of wing, can fly slow, high descent rates not a problem... great airplane!

[JimC]

It's known locally as Taddy Bay but officially it's Virgin Gorda Airport. The current most numerous planes there are Islanders. Tradewinds just started PC-12 service; I expect it will be popular now that you can clear customs directly after flying from Puerto Rico. You used to have to fly into Tortola to clear, and then ferry/sail/swim/fly six miles over to Virgin Gorda.

The Commander comes over on charter occasionally but doesn't have scheduled service.

BTW, an Islander is what got designed when the designer asked his six year old to draw a Commander, and then the kid's drawing accidentally got slipped into the blueprints.

[Adam Frisch]

I've mentioned this before, but my old 520 was truly a STOL plane. Full flaps, full power, it stalled at 39kts per POH. I kid you not. Took that to desert dirt strips, Johnson Creek etc. At home base at El Monte lined up on the chevrons, I could be off before the threshold about 600ft later. It was amazing in that regard, but that was all down to the geared engines - they had insane amounts of torque and you just can't get the same acceleration on direct drive engines.