Hello Gang!
Why would Microsoft give us a landing challenge at SABA/TNCM with the King Air when the King Air requires twice the runway length to land safely??? GRRR
Dennis
3 Likes
It really doesnât need twice the length. Iâve just tried it for the first time and completed it . Good AOA, airspeed around 100, full flaps, land on or before the blue box , and hit the reverser and brakes. Job done
2 Likes
thatâs what makes it a landing challenge, and not a casual landing.
8 Likes
Correct, it needs even more 
According to the POH the 350i needs 650m at minimum weight and the SABA runway is only 300m.
Heâs kinda right though. King air is not supposed to land there. That itâs possible is another thing.
Anyway. Try taking off now⊠You see itâs completely unrealistic. Still a good challenge. I think they wanted to use a twin prop because itâs the closest (by looks at least) to the twin otters that are flown there mostly
1 Like
Sorry guysâŠeither some of you are right and Beechcraft is incorrect, or vice versa. The King Air seems to require almost twice the runway at SABA. Not a fair challenge - not a challenge at all. Maybe a challenge to determine who flies longer off the cliff!!!
2 Likes
Donât forget that this is the landing distance, which starts at 50ft and no reverse is being used.
For the challenge you can disregard the 50ft and you can use reverse.
If you would land the 350i withing the âofficialâ distance, it wouldnât be a challengeâŠ
2 Likes
At the end of the day, whether the runway is too short compared to real world requirements or not, whether the aircraft is correctly modelled or not, it is possible to land it , in this sim, on that runway. It can be done, itâs a âchallengeâ and loads of people have completed it. Whether or not itâs true to life is irrelevant. Maybe you just need to get better at flying the King Air in this sim and keep trying.
4 Likes
When u land, ur need to deploy all brakes, reversers, spoilers, anchors and parachutes to max.
Anchors away, Mr. Gibbs!
1 Like
Iâm going to be a pedant here and point out that itâs âaweighâ.
3 Likes
âŠespecially the parachute! LOL.
You couldâve taken that a step further and mentioned that would mean itâs free of the river/sea bottom.
That exchange was a good laugh though, lol.
All landing distance charts are based on a certain criteria listed (temperture, weight, atmospheric pressure, dry vs wet runway, wind) in a chart with brakes only. They are usually establish on a average demonstated condition at max gross weight. Any different condition can increase or decrease landing distance. They do not account for spoilers, reverse thrust or reverse propeller which will shorten landing distances. This is calculated this way so that if one of these systems were to fail, you would know your landing distances based on brakes only. You have to look at the details of chart listed to get accurate information about actual landing distance. So is it possible to land at Saba with a King Air 350i? It depends on temp, headwind, weight of aircraft, pressure altitude and runway conditions. Iâm only saying that one number listed on google doesnât tell the whole story of landing distance. Youâll have to dig out the full perfomance charts on King Air 350i and read all the fine print that goes with that chart. Iâm guessing at low aircraft weight, dry conditions, low temps and using reverse pitch, it can be done all day with the right skills.
1 Like
OP: Because someone in the MS/Asobo team with no flying experience thought it was a âfunâ challenge.
Perhaps You should ask a Real World Pilot who drives a KingAir 350i if It can be done? âsafelyâ
Or let Your inflatable pilot do it for You!
For heavier aircraft like the KingAir there are tables for different weights.
Even at the lowest possible weight the minimum landing distance is 650m and the runway at Saba is only 300m. No way you can do it IRL.
Again, since this is a landing âchallengeâ, you could disregard the landing distance table since itâs the distance from 50ft.
The main problem is, as IRL, itâs easy to get it down, but thereâs no way to get a KingAir out of Saba again, even at minimum weight.
Do you know what key strokes turn the âreverserâ on
1 Like
Safely, thats another story. Well, I can tell you from +15,000hrs of real world flying and 1000hrs in a Beech 1900D, which is similiar, it can be done. Would I want to, no? It would my last choice.
2 Likes
Fair enough.
Cheers.
1 Like
We flew in here on an Otter once and it was amazing, like a carrier landing without the restraints. Take off was also bazaar, just after rotation you clear the end of the runway and the ground falls away taking the ground effect with it and the plane sinks.
1 Like