Threading the needle with a 747-100

This is an easy story since it was forwarded to me by a friend and one of our senior retired Captains who has shared some of his stories here. The actual source is not known to me however.

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Actual shots are from a fairly impressive landing operation.
One of SAA's first B-747s retiring to Rand Airport, South Africa
(elevation 5568 feet with 4898 long x 50 feet wide runway!)
The 747-100 outer-to-outer main gear tire width is 41.33 ft.
Empty aircraft Vref was 115 kts! Right on the center line.
An inch is as good as a mile. Nice work.
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http://supercub.org/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=planes&id=ATT744805

http://supercub.org/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=planes&id=file000

http://supercub.org/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=planes&id=file001

Notice they're not student pilots. I still feel a littl more comforable when the captain has a some gray hair. Crash

Crash said:

Notice they're not student pilots. I still feel a littl more comforable when the captain has a some gray hair. Crash

Click to expand...

Just picture what the view must be coming in with the nose so high and losing sight of the centerline and still end up with the nose gear right on track and with only 4 foot leeway on each main gear from hard service to grass.
I was joking with our Captain that sent this to me that I thought our pilots did that on every trip with our 737s. Those guys flew our 737s into selected bush strips just as most people would do with a Super Cub. Hell, go out over the ice pack, get under the scud and come in special VFR. The Arctic was built that way.