Circular Runway

Rob Perkins wrote:

FWIW, I've heard similar things about a stretch of highway outside of
Frankfurt.

The Luftwaffe used numerous sections of the autobahn for runways in WWII. Typically,
they hid the aircraft in forests near the road and pulled out on the highway for
departure. American pilots found many of them by following the German fighters back
home.

George Patterson
This marriage is off to a shaky start. The groom just asked the band to
play "Your cheatin' heart", and the bride just requested "Don't come home
a'drinkin' with lovin' on your mind".

I dunno about that. There isn't a straight stretch of road or highway
in all the mountainous areas of Switzerland, it seems to me. And I've
been on 'em, on those Postal Bus routes. It'd be a mighty short-field
technique taking off from one of those roads!

You didn't look closely enough! The Swiss autobahns were buitl as
runways. They even had (probably still have) pop-up barriers so the
automobile traffic won't get tangled with the jet interceptors.

(Actually, it was on a Swiss bus, coming down from Arolla in 1974,
that I saw the hangar doors. Don't recall where the runway was in that
case, since I wasn't on the autobahn.)

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

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Cub Driver wrote:


I dunno about that. There isn't a straight stretch of road or highway
in all the mountainous areas of Switzerland, it seems to me. And I've
been on 'em, on those Postal Bus routes. It'd be a mighty short-field
technique taking off from one of those roads!

You didn't look closely enough! The Swiss autobahns were buitl as
runways. They even had (probably still have) pop-up barriers so the
automobile traffic won't get tangled with the jet interceptors.

(Actually, it was on a Swiss bus, coming down from Arolla in 1974,
that I saw the hangar doors. Don't recall where the runway was in that
case, since I wasn't on the autobahn.)

Can't find Arolla on my map. Which Canton is it in? I found Airola, in
Ticino, and Arosa, in Graubuenden, two cantons which in spite of my 16
months there, I never managed to visit. I spent most of my time in
Basel.

In any case, I don't doubt it's possible, just that it'd be really
difficult on any road the Swiss build except the Autobahn. And even
then, they'd have to be great pilots in any case to operate in those
mountains...

Rob

Rob Perkins wrote:

I dunno about that. There isn't a straight stretch of road or highway
in all the mountainous areas of Switzerland, it seems to me.

There's more about Switzerland than the Alps, you know...

Can't find Arolla on my map. Which Canton is it in?

Arolla in in the Canton Valais. You go to the town Sion and then follow
a little valley which points to the south, direction Matterhorn. At the
very end of that valley you'll find Arolla. You needn't be too
disappointed if you don't find it on your map, as it's a really really
really small village.

I spent most of my time in Basel.

That's where I'm living. You worked for the chemistry, I guess?

In any case, I don't doubt it's possible, just that it'd be really
difficult on any road the Swiss build except the Autobahn.

Yes, those runways are on the Autobahn. In fact, pieces of the Autobahn
were planned with this in mind. Don't forget that jets meant "Venom" at
that time. Runways of 6000 ft were plenty long enough. Today they fly
F/A 18 and landing on the Autobahn isn't in their plans anymore.

You'll find a short history at
http://www.vbs-ddps.ch/internet/luft...lt/freewa.html
(German only).

And even
then, they'd have to be great pilots in any case to operate in those
mountains...

Take a look at http://www.steehouwer.com/ (scroll to the bottom and
choose Swiss Air Force, Axalp). Some of those pictures are impressing.

Stefan

Stefan wrote:

There's more about Switzerland than the Alps, you know...

Matter of fact, since I had domiciles in Bern-BE, Itingen-BL,
Zuerich-ZH, and Interlaken-BE, I do know that. Got to wear the
Fascnacht pin for Liestal in 1990 and everything. Basel-Land is one of
my favorite places.

Arolla in in the Canton Valais. You go to the town Sion and then follow
a little valley which points to the south, direction Matterhorn. At the
very end of that valley you'll find Arolla. You needn't be too
disappointed if you don't find it on your map, as it's a really really
really small village.

Ah, OK. Well, the only visit I was able to make to Wallis was a train
ride to Zermatt. I've got my old rail map around here someplace...

That's where I'm living. You worked for the chemistry, I guess?

No, I was a missionary/teacher for a small church in each area where I
lived, in 1989-1990. I met a lot of people that way.

In any case, I don't doubt it's possible, just that it'd be really
difficult on any road the Swiss build except the Autobahn.

Yes, those runways are on the Autobahn.

OK.

Take a look at http://www.steehouwer.com/ (scroll to the bottom and
choose Swiss Air Force, Axalp). Some of those pictures are impressing.

I remember watching a film at the Verkehrshaus in Lucerne, about the
stunt flyers in the Swiss Air Force. I didn't think it was that
impressive until someone pointed out they weren't in fly-by-wire
airplanes. Based on that, they're better than the Navy Blue Angels,
*especially* given the mountains around them.

Rob

On Wed, 07 Apr 2004 14:49:22 GMT, Rob Perkins
wrote:

Can't find Arolla on my map. Which Canton is it in? I found Airola, in
Ticino, and Arosa, in Graubuenden, two cantons which in spite of my 16
months there, I never managed to visit. I spent most of my time in
Basel.

It's a dinky town on the Haute (ski) Route from Chamonix to Zermatt.
We got weathered out and had to give up, so took the bus down from the
mountains. It seems to be in Valais, a bit NW of Breuil/Cervinia in
Italy. I think Arolla is the name of a pine tree.

In any case, I don't doubt it's possible, just that it'd be really
difficult on any road the Swiss build except the Autobahn. And even
then, they'd have to be great pilots in any case to operate in those
mountains...

Evidently they are, to judge by the Air&Space article referenced
earlier


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
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