Αεροδρόμια "αδρεναλίνης"

Βρήκα αυτές τις φωτογραφίες "ιδιαίτερων" αεροδρομίων στο archibase.net, δεν είχε αναφορές για το που βρίσκονται, αν κάποιος γνωρίζει ευχαρίστως θα θέλαμε να μάθουμε. Προσωπικά θα ήθελα να επισκευτώ κάποιο από αυτά.

(πηγή: archibase.net, Architecture Portal News)

Μετά αποφάσισα να το ψάξω λίγο περισσότερο και εντόπισα και άλλα αεροδρόμια που η αδρεναλίνη φτάνει στα ύψη, δείτε τα...



Lukla Airport, Nepal, LUA
Since Lukla Nepal is the place most people start their Mount Everest trek, this Himalayan strip gets quite a bit of traffic--mostly to and from Kathmandu.
Sirens inform folks for miles when an airplane is landing here, and as you would suspect, only helicopters and Twin Otter type planes can handle the 2,000 foot, uphill runway that is fenced off at the end, to protect you from the edge of a mountain cliff.
As for take off? When you take off, you go downhill and then the runway just disappears into the valley down below.
If you don't get enough speed, you drop until you get lift and then hopefully get back up again. Wind and weather cause plenty of delays here, however, there is usually plenty to drink around the airport, just in case you need to pass the time or get up the gumption to get on your flight. Yeti Airlines is one of the few commercial airlines you can book through to get to LUA.



Courchevel Airport, France, CVF
Courchevel Altiport is home to an extremely short uphill runway (1722 feet) with a vertical drop at the end. Of course, since the airport is in the French Alps snow, wind and ice reek havoc with anything airborne. If do actually get the chance to land here, you will be afforded a rare opportunity to ski or snowboard after you disembark. Who gets to land here? Well, Pierce Brosnan made the short list. This was the airport used in the opening seen of Tomorrow Never Dies. For the rest of us, private plane, helicopter, or charter are the only ways to go, and your pilot is going to need some serious training before he or she is allowed to land at CVF. If all that sounds like too much trouble there is a great little après-ski bar in the airport, perfect for watching planes and helicopters attempt to land from the warmth of the indoors.



Barra Airport, Scotland, BRR
Barra Airport is the only airport in the world where planes land on the beach. BRR is situated in on the wide beach of Traigh Mhor, on Barra island, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. If you want to fly here commercially you will want to book with British Airways, which flies to Barra from Glasgow and Benbecula.
The airport is literally washed away by the tide once a day, and if you arrive on a late afternoon flight, you may notice a couple of cars in the parking lot with their lights on, which provides pilots some added visibility, since the airport is naturally lit.
Needless to say you probably don't want to hang out at Barra Airport beach, unless you are a aviation junkie, in which case Barra Airport has a fool proof system, as sign that reads:
Keep off the beach. When the windsock is flying and the airport is active.
Ah the old sock on the door trick--the universal sign for "come back later".



Saba Island, SAB
Saba Island is an idyllic, secluded, honeymoon destination. Travel and Leisure voted it the best island in the Caribbean. But before all you soon to be marrieds rush to book a post wedding trip to Saba, please make sure your partner to be can handle a ride on a Win Air DHC-6 Twin Otter.
The landing strip is a reported 1300 feet, which makes it one of the shortest commercial runways in the world. Furthermore, the strip is flanked on one side by steep hills, and on the other side and at both ends of the runway by cliffs dropping into the sea. This creates the possibility that an airplane might overshoot the runway during landing or takeoff and end up in the sea or on the cliffs.



Madeira Island, FNC
Ever heard of Madeira, an autonomous island (part of the EU) off the coast of Norther Africa? It is a popular year round resort with a near perfect climate, good wine, incredible scenery, and quality surfing. Sounds like paradise, but prepare yourself for a turbulent landing on the island's partially over-the-water runway when landing at Madeira Funchal Airport.
The FNC runway is abutted by water on one side and hills on the other, and in 2000 the runway was extended over the Atlantic Ocean about half a mile in order to accommodate jet liners. The overwater landing strip addition is supported by giant pillars, which you can actually boat around once your stay on Madeira begins.
Want more? Even though British Airways (direct from London-Gatwick), Air France, and other major airlines land here daily, pilots and passengers have to put up with mega-turbulence during landing, so much so that, at times, high winds and storms still close this airport to jet liners during winter months.
The airport itself is extremely modern and well kept, which any entering visitor deserves after putting up with what can be a arm rest clenching landing.
Check out the video of a SAS plane that approached FNC, but pulls off just before landing--this place has one tough approach.



Lugano, Switzerland, LUG
LUG is in a mountain valley, bordered by a lake and subject to strong alpine winds. Crossair / Swiss, have been flying there for years with aircraft as big as the BAe 146. Until one day, the Swiss aviation overseers have found out that the approach is so steep that it's illegal.
For a while, commercial air traffic into the area came to a virtual standstill. Eventually, Saab 2000 planes were again permitted to fly there. Too bad that Swiss had just sold all of these. So now they are wet-leasing Saabs for the Zurich-Lugano route.
Especially during inclement weather, approaching LUG is more fun than a roller coaster ride at your local Six Flags. Or, as the elderly American couple behind me once exclaimed: "Oh my god, we're all gonna die in here!!"



WLG: Wellington, NZ
Jaunted tipster Tim has seen his share of airports, and he wanted us to check out the Wellington New Zealand strip:
Similar to Hamilton Island is several respects, eg landing between hills with the sea at both ends of the runway. Great to land in Wellington when its windy, which it often is.
Want more? This airport's slogan is "Wild at Heart". Furthermore, on Friday nights the airport showcases local musicians in the terminal, and last year the airport put out a mix CD featuring songs from said musicians.
Oh, yeah, and there is a project in the works to lengthen the runway to keep up with aviation standards.
Click more to check out some video footage of planes landing at WLG to get an idea of what it is like to land in this skinny wind tunnel.



HTI: Hamilton Island
Dreaming of a holiday on Australia's Whitsundays? Incredibly, the tiny island has been able to build an airport big enough to accommodate jet airliners (mostly Jet Star and Virgin Blue).
Minimum runway length for jets is ~5,000 feet, while HTI clocks in at 5,591 feet, or just a bit over one mile long. Want more? There are hills on both sides of the runway and water at both ends. To line up for the approach, even the most experienced pilots fly straight past the landing strip, then turn back at a fourty-five degree angle.
What is your reward for this harrowing air experience?
Your luggage on arrival is collected by the island taxi/bus service and taken directly to your room in the hotel. Unfortunately you have to carry it to the bus on the return journey and check it in yourself.
S'alright mate. After all, you are spending time in Oz, so it is best you calibrate yourself to the Australian attitude of let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may as soon as you arrive, literally.
YouTube video of takeoff from HTI is after the jump, but it doesn't do the experience justice.

(πηγή: www.jaunted.com)