Who needs a runway?

[dstclair]

http://www.zenith.aero/video/stol

I'm always impressed watching STOL competitions: 60 ft to take off and 150' to land.

[NCPilot]

Very nice!

[langj]

The ch750 is a nice plane. It's what I have been flying lately. The only thing that sucks with it is the center "Y" stick. It cramps your arm due to odd angle and you tend to pull the aircraft to the left with out knowing. I also find it super rudder sensitive at least compared to the zodiac 601. But, the views are just amazing and you hardly need any runway.

[Jack Tyler]

Take a look at this landing:
http://www.justaircraft.com/page.php?38
My son's roll-out in a Navy 60R helo is longer than this!

Different kind of LSA than a Zenith (tube/fabric vs. metal) but also much more useful load and faster in flight. One good example of how broad the range of LSA a/c which exist in today's marketplace. This is now available S-LSA as well as E-AB kit.

[langj]

Its a damn good thing he had the landing gear that he has. That was a really hard landing I was cringing when it got close to the ground I really thought that was going to be a hard landing.

[Jack Tyler]

You're right about the landing gear...but keep in mind that bush tires usually have about 6 psi of pressure. They are essentially large donut shock absorbers more than running gear.

Just FYI there is a nifty video on-line that shows a Highlander departing a high overlook, flying down to and along a river bed, and landing on the river bed several miles away...all without starting the engine. The initial roll down the 'cliff' looks a bit breathtaking but the rest, you would swear, seems to be under power. It's just what these high lift/high drag LSA bush a/c are capable of.

[AustrianGuy]

dead stick takeoff https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeQP-H_31JQ kind of crazy/scary

[langj]

I have seen this video before. Its very crazy. I read on another forum that the guy was fined by the FAA for this video.