The ice runway is open!

[AdamB]

Just FYI the ice runway at
Alton Bay, NH is open.

A bunch of us are heading up for breakfast tomorrow at 10am.
Can't wait!

01/101 Aerodrome Open Ice Runway 2600 Longitude By 90 Wide With Parallel TXY on East Side Contact FBO 603-875-3498 For Current Field Conditions. 08 JAN 23:37 2010 Until Further Notice. Created: 08 JAN 23:27 2010
01/102 Aerodrome 16 IN Snowbank(s) Caused by Plowing. 08 JAN 23:37 2010 Until Further Notice. Created: 08 JAN 23:28 2010

 

[AdamZ]

I so want to go there. Please take lots of picutres and post them.

 

[Ted]

Wonder if it'll hold an Aztec...

 

[AdamB]

Wonder if it'll hold an Aztec...

Last year we had several planes there for the winter carnival.
I'm sure it would be fine.
Come on up.

I'll upload some more pics after the get together tomorrow.

 

[Geico266]

Very cool.

 

[Skip Miller]

Last year we had several planes there for the winter carnival.
I'm sure it would be fine.
Come on up.

I'll upload some more pics after the get together tomorrow.

I was there last year, but on the late side. It's lots of fun! And Ted... Yes it will hold the Aztruck. It's not a soft field landing, it is a short field landing....

-Skip

 

[SCCutler]

I know the ice is thick and strong, but this just messes with my mind.

Just a southern boy, I guess...

 

[AdamB]

Here are some pics and a video (taken from my iPhone) from today.
It was a great turnout as about 11 of us showed up.

 

[SCCutler]

Looks like rollicking-good, COLD, fun!

 

[AdamZ]

Oh that looks like soooo much fun. How thick is the ice?

 

[AdamB]

About 15"

 

[Rob Schaffer]

Awesome!

 

[Jack Spectre]

Cripes 15" of ice will hold a small airliner. I bet the iceport will be open for a while this season...

 

[TangoWhiskey]

Cripes 15" of ice will hold a small airliner. I bet the iceport will be open for a while this season...

Interesting...

http://www.mainenature.org/documents/icestrength.html

The ice strength charts at the link above are interesting; how dramatically the weight the ice can support increases with just a few more inches.

"Frequent and repetitive loading of the ice can drastically weaken it." Makes you wonder about the touchdown zone, eh? Plunking it in repeatedly?

 

[Bill]

I know the ice is thick and strong, but this just messes with my mind.

Yeah, that just ain't right

 

[Skip Miller]

Cripes 15" of ice will hold a small airliner. I bet the iceport will be open for a while this season...

Last year the iceport didn't open until mid-February, and after a great weekend of the Fire and Ice festival, it closed because of a wet snow followed by freezing temperatures, spoiling the surface of the ice.

-Skip