Here’s footage taken a few days ago of a US Air Force C-5M Super Galaxy transport taking off from Prestwick in the UK during a heavy rainstorm. It kicks up a lot of spray.
I wonder what landing would be like, with that much water on the runway? I suppose the Galaxy is heavy enough that it wouldn’t aquaplane, but a lighter aircraft might be a different story.
Peter
You really opught to get a clip of a P# departing NAS Adak with standing water on the runway, unable to see the other end.
How about Adak shortly after the pierced steel matting was laid (over a lagoon that had been filled in because that was the only way to get a flat piece of land long enough for heavy bombers to use). This is from the classic John Huston film, Report from the Aleutians. It was simply astounding how quickly it went from initial landings to first bombing mission against Kiska.
Having arrived and taken off from Prestwick many times, this is not unusual at all.
Aluminum overcast… 🙂
I live near DAFB and I have watched these planes come and go in all types of weather. I guess about the only thing that gets them is cross winds.
For a big bird, she is a graceful lady!
Kadena had the runways cross milled for heavy rains. our half a million pound radar plane would aquaplane easily. the tires looked like they landed on a hot skillet from the steam generated by the pressure between the tire and the concrete. when they slowed enough, the cross mill worked like a cheese grater. we usually got about twelve full stops out of a set of recaps.