Today the weather wasn't typical New Mexico. Sky was gray but ceiling was somewhere in the 14.000ft. So a good opportunity to explore the closer vicinity again. There are some salt flats about 70 miles southeast of Alamogordo and I always wanted to land there. The wind up in the mountains was blowing from the north and it blew me down toward Dell City with 155kts GS.
Not to bad. When I arrived I noticed that the big flat was flooded but there was a smaller one north east of it. The Guadelupe Mountain NP is close by. So I turned around a took a closer look at the smaller flat. It seamed dry and I could see some ATV tracks. So I though i'll give it a try. With partial flaps I made my first approach and flew the aircraft down till to tires touched the ground. I kept the power in and noticed no significant slowdown. The surface was flat and smooth and not to soft. I added power for a go around and made my final approach. When the tires touched the ground again I very slowly reduced power. So I did not get a short landing but a very smooth one. The tail came down and remained down and the aircraft came to a stop. Not a problem at all. Here I was, my first landing on a Salt Flat in the middle of nowhere! ;-)
Attached some pictures for you guys!
Georg
Not to bad. When I arrived I noticed that the big flat was flooded but there was a smaller one north east of it. The Guadelupe Mountain NP is close by. So I turned around a took a closer look at the smaller flat. It seamed dry and I could see some ATV tracks. So I though i'll give it a try. With partial flaps I made my first approach and flew the aircraft down till to tires touched the ground. I kept the power in and noticed no significant slowdown. The surface was flat and smooth and not to soft. I added power for a go around and made my final approach. When the tires touched the ground again I very slowly reduced power. So I did not get a short landing but a very smooth one. The tail came down and remained down and the aircraft came to a stop. Not a problem at all. Here I was, my first landing on a Salt Flat in the middle of nowhere! ;-)
Attached some pictures for you guys!
Georg
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