Lefty---

[Left Seater]

Wow, just wow. I would not fly that approach as that pilot did. That sure seems to me to be a little bit of show off for the camera.

First off dude landed down wind. Why? On his roll out the opposite end of the runway looks like it can support a normal approach.

Second, prior to the 180 degree turn to final we get a good look up that valley. I would not be nearly as low as he was when he made that turn nor would I have turned where he did. I would have been higher and flown further up the valley before lining up.

Finally, I would not have shot that gap thru the trees like he did. There was still plenty of runway in front of him when he landed so I would have stayed higher and landed a littler further down the runway.

Granted, I would never have landed that direction given the conditions unless there was no other choice.


Here's hoping none of us ever have to fly with that guy.

[Rooster]

As a helicopter pilot, that particular approach doesn't look terribly worrisome other than the downwind aspect of it. Nap-of-the-earth flight is far closer in proximity to obstacles and terrain and every military pilot is trained to do in loose formation at night to boot. The only issue I see is if it is hot/high landing site with a downwind component settling with power could be a factor, but any experienced pilot would feel its' onset before reaching the vortex ring state.