For The Love Of Port

I have not posted in a while and I have not made any plans to travel to Madeira (though it has moved way up my prospective destinations list).

A frind of mine, an urban planner with an eye for innovative design and knowing my love of madeira wine, sent me these photos of the airport runway in Funchal.

Maybe I'll get there some day soon.

Joe D'Achille
Orlando, Florida

WOW! I had no idea they had that set-up in Funchal

Thanks for posting the pictures

Holy cow, that has to be one strong elevated runway! The force of a plane slamming down on a runway has to be huge.

Andy Velebil wrote:Holy cow, that has to be one strong elevated runway! The force of a plane slamming down on a runway has to be huge.

Perhaps surprisingly, most airliners land pretty softly. Passengers complain if they don't.

Still, a fully loaded 747-400ER weighs in excess of 450 tons. I doubt they fly any of those into Funchal, but even much smaller airliners weigh over 100 tons.

That runway was designed to handle a 747.

Having flown in and out of there nearly a dozen times, I can tell you that outside of landing at Aspen (CO) airport, there are few more exciting landing strips that I've ever been on.

Joe D., why not plan to come with us to Madeira in 2011. There is a slight chance that we are going to add a 2nd week to our 2010 Fortification Tour, but that is still not something finalized yet. If you'd be interested this year rather than next (meaning May 2010) email me please.

Roy

Roy Hersh wrote:Having flown in and out of there nearly a dozen times, I can tell you that outside of landing at Aspen (CO) airport, there are few more exciting landing strips that I've ever been on.

That one does look awfully entertaining, that's for sure!

Reminds me a bit of Honolulu. If you're on the "wrong" side of the plane you can't see anything but water until just before you touch down!

Honolulu is mild by comparison. The wild winds coming right off the Atlantic Ocean are crazy and I am sure you'll notice that here.

OK, hold onto your seats:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7Ad4y9hPE4

This is even wilder and a must see!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgvlvLDW69U&feature=fvw


This shows some close calls, especially later in the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgvlvLDW69U&feature=fvw


Last but not least and make sure your seat belts are on ... although not Funchal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIuS4qx9WE4&NR=1

The craziest landing strip I've been on was at Lukla in the Nepalese Himilayas. It's angled from the level on a mountain spur. Angled so the aircraft can slow in time landing and to build up speed quickly for takeoff.

Sounds like Courchevel in the French Alps. Marijke and I flew by it, but didn't land there. This isn't my photo, but I can probably dig one up if we need more.

I have everything planned for my trip to Madeira in May 2010, because after trying my first Madeira in Vinologia with a bottle brought by Roy (D´Oliveiras Reserva Verdelho 1912 / half-dry) and after seeing these pictures I´m now more anxious !

Eric,
Remind me to bring a change of undershorts if I ever fly out of that French airport.

Yes, it was similar to your photo. I thought the pilots where some of the best I've seen. Mountain piloting. Dodging in and out of the clouds to see where they're at and landing and take off at 12,000 ft ASL.

I saved the best for last:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq9M6y5tVU4

Great choices, soundtrack could have been more compelling.