In early times, there was a favourite landing position for small aircraft.
That was to end up lying upside down on the airstrip. It meant that the
passengers and crew did not have so far to step down to the ground.
There was no need for the co-pilot to jump down to set the ladder up for
passengers to disembark. They just opened the door and fell out.
How did this practice begin? It started when the airstrip was constructed.
It was full of bumps and became quite slushy in the rainy season that
began every afternoon, particularly in the highlands.
An aircraft on landing found that motion forward was stopped by a muddy
patch while the aircraft was still traveling at 60 km per hour. Only option
was for the pilot to hang on for grim death while the aircraft did a flip.
The difficulty was the take-off. That can be difficult with landing wheels
pointing upwards. Flights were delayed until something could be done to
rectify the situation. At least the disembarking passengers were usually
at their destination.
This situation does not arise so much these days. The quality of airstrips
has improved greatly by preparation with gravel to put down a firm surface.
As aircraft land at Efogi, Kagi, and Kokoda, it is time for the passengers to
close their eyes for a second and grit their teeth.
But when they open their eyes again, chances are the aircraft has already
landed and moving at speed towards the terminal cleverly constructed as
a patch of grass.
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