T1B

So I am sure some of you know of Sint Maarten - Saint Martin, a French/Dutch island in the Caribbean. Beautiful beaches, great diving, etc. What you might not know is the airport is very close to the beach and the runway is at 3 feet of elevation. The end of the overrun area is about 15 feet from the high tide line. Plus there is a great little bar on Maho Beach right at the end of the runway. Even if you aren't an aviation geek you will stop and be amazed at how close you are to hundreds of thousands of lbs directly over your head.

I have been there three times but I have never left the airport. Each was a quick turn and I didn't get to visit Maho Beach. That will change later this year when the wife and I visit this fall. I will have a few photos like this of my own:











So it is one thing to stand on Maho Beach as a 747 is approaching and feel like you can reach up and touch the plane as it is landing. It is totally different to stand along the fence when a plane is taking off. Some choose to hold onto the fence as the planes are departing. Some standing in the sand quickly move away as they get blasted by the sand from the jet exhaust. Others make it thru. Some are not so lucky even with a smaller (relatively) A320 as this woman found out. (Notice the right seat open the window and wave at those at the bar.)



Then there is this smart guy that thinks he can hold his daughter in the sand blaster. Notice the single guy that looks like he was shot. Got to like the chowd commentary to the plane, "up, up, up."

We were there last year and the year before. Spent an hour or two at that bar each time when we were getting ready to fly back. Wonderful island with many fantastic restaurants.

Also has a well-known nude beach which I strolled a couple times wearing nothing but a smile. The only downside of that was that I was the youngest and buffest person on the beach. I have a picture of myself there holding a sign over my privates that read "HI MOM".

Ouch.

I'll bet that cement curb has all kinds of dings in it!

The pic of the KLM 747 is amazing. Looks like he is gonna put it down right on the beach.

Wish I still had the pics I took while on the JFK. I used to sit on my ILS platform which is located centerline and about 20 feet below the round down. The round down is the rear edge of the flight deck. I would sit there and watch recoveries. Cool watch A-6s and F-14s buzz about 40 feet over your head. Wasn't supposed to be there during recoveries, but, nobody said anything, so long as you weren't being a dumbfukk, like the occasional idiot that would go up there at night and take flash pics. pilots kinda frown on such distractions.

Goober McTuber wrote:We were there last year and the year before. Spent an hour or two at that bar each time when we were getting ready to fly back. Wonderful island with many fantastic restaurants.

Also has a well-known nude beach which I strolled a couple times wearing nothing but a smile. The only downside of that was that I was the youngest and buffest person on the beach. I have a picture of myself there holding a sign over my privates that read "HI MOM".

I'll have to pass on that beach if I ever go there. No need to see 87 year old pasty eurojunk.

If that’s a joke, it’s not all that funny. When we were there last February, we were told that the following week a nude cruise ship was stopping by the island. 2,000+ naked people descending on the beach. There had to have been at least a couple of lookers in there somewhere.

Goober McTuber wrote:Also has a well-known nude beach which I strolled a couple times wearing nothing but a smile. The only downside of that was that I was the youngest and buffest person on the beach. I have a picture of myself there holding a sign over my privates that read "HI MOM".

Perv.

KC Scott wrote:

Goober McTuber wrote:When we were there last February, we were told that the following week a nude cruise ship was stopping by the island. 2,000+ naked people descending on the beach. There had to have been at least a couple of lookers in there somewhere.

OK McWaxy your rather peculiar self flossing makes more sense now.

If you're so desparate to see live nude women, why don't you just go hit your local titty bar

I don't have to. I've got the interwebs.