Landing on the beach

[akarmy]

Here's what you do when you have a free day in Seattle. Head out to the coast and land on the state's beach runway. Yes it's really a state airport, only distinguishing feature is a sign that says this is Coapalis state airport. You just make sure the tide is going out instead of in, overfly to look for beach walkers, and head for the sand. What fun!

[Dick B in KY]

Looks like a great way to spend the day. Much different than what we have here in Kentucky. Nice pic.

Dick B

[87kitfox1]

what beautiful weather. nothing better.

[Mark]

Nice area Andy. I used to fly into Ocean Shores and Westport alot. Never made it into Copalis tho. Guess we're going to have to come back up there sometime.

[Rodney]

Beautiful airplane and great pictures.

Question - Could you have landed there with a nose-gear airplane?

Thanks
Rodney Wren

[SkyPirate]

Awesome Andy ,..looking at your tracks in front of your feet ,..your getting pretty good at running around with the tail up
one of the great things about landing on the beach which I'm sure you'll figure out quick ,,the wind is always clean no matter how fast it's blowing off the water.
If the wind is blowing striaght off the water towards land ,..sometimes if you can find the thermal line and get into it ,..pull back a little power nose her up slightly and just hang right there with no or very little forward ground speed,...bank her left slightly ..then back to the right feeling for the edge of the thermal,..now that's flying with the birds

[SkyPirate]

Rodney,..from the looks of the surface ,..I would land on that beach with a nose wheel ,..but ,.not all beaches have the compacted sand,.a tell tale sign is foot prints ..if they are shallow or barely visible..the surface is harder,..it they are deep prints or look like little pockets in the sand ,.the sand is loose and could possible swallow a nose wheel. and although it may look flat,..not all beaches are,..like Andy had mentioned about looking for beach walkers ,..I'm sure he was also looking for a flat spot,..it's good practice tail wheel or tri gear to always over fly the area you plan on touching down look for drift wood,..walkers,..swirls in the sand is proof of an eddy when the tide was going out which could mean a low spot on the beach. a line in the sand going from the land towards the water that looks wet,..shiny,..these area's can swallow the main gear on a tail dragger let alone a nose wheel on a tricycle,..
any surface that is generally all the same color can hide a hazard,..especially when the sun is at it's apex or near it,.casting no shadows, or no shadow conditions such as over cast etc.
Not trying to detour anyone from landing on a beach,..just a heads up

[akarmy]

The day I landed out there on the beach, there was a tri-gear 172 & 182 on the same beach. So yes, if the tide is on it's way out and leaves you some hard sand you can use a tri-gear too!

I never had the nerve to try my tri-gear RV on the beach, but it really is hard sand out there so I doubt it would cause much problem.

What was interesting was the slope of the "runway" I'm not used to landing on a 15deg slope across the runway! As you flare, the up hill wheel touches first and then you kind of bank over while slowing. Just something new to get used to.