Video: Amazing River Bar Landing

This video definitely fits into the "don't try this at home" category, unless, of course, you are a highly experienced bush pilot. The pilot managed to land and take off from a postage stamp gravel island in the middle of a river in Alaska, using water assisted landing technique.

The airplane touched down in the water a few feet before the island with what appear to be 29-inch tundra tires and came to a stop right in the middle of the small gravel bar. Shortly after it came to a full stop, the airplane took off, again dipping the tires in the river.

Landing on water with anything other than a seaplane is certainly not advisable, but it is a technique widely used by experienced bush pilots.

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Pia Bergqvist joined FLYING in December 2010. A passionate aviator, Pia started flying in 1999 and quickly obtained her single- and multi-engine commercial, instrument and instructor ratings. After a decade of working in general aviation, Pia has accumulated almost 3,000 hours of flight time in nearly 40 different types of aircraft.

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