I Flew to ST. BARTS on a TWIN OTTER!
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- Опубликовано: 30 янв 2025
- Located in the northeastern Caribbean, not far from St. Maarten, the island of St. Barts is another must-visit destination for aviation enthusiasts.
The island is served by a relatively small airport, which has a runway that’s just over 2100 feet long. A large hill directly in front of the western end of the runway also makes for an approach that’s often dubbed one of the most extreme in the world.
So, while I was staying in St. Maarten last year, this was a day trip that I had to make!
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FLIGHT INFORMATION
Airline: Winair (WIN/WM)
Aircraft: De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 (DHC6)
Flight Number: WM615/664
Seat: 1A/7A
Livery: Blue/Normal
Engines: 2x Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27
Registration: PJ-WII / PJ-WIP
Route: St. Maarten (SXM) - St. Barts (SBH) - St. Maarten (SXM)
Callsign: WINDWARD 615/664
Runway used: 10 / 10
Date filmed: February 2023
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Outro song - "Take Flight" by Nyhtian: • Nyhtian - Take Flight ...
© Alex Praglowski Aviation 2024
This video is the property of Alex Praglowski Aviation and may not be used for any purpose without prior permission. Contact me at the email in the "About" section of my channel for usage.
6:23 hahaha you can tell those ladies have definitely taken that flight a few times!
Holy smokes!
That approach angle blew me away!
I've taken that flight a dozen times. It's always exciting, and occasionally...terrifying.
A super-like for that approach!
Twin Otters, Caravans, PC-12s, and appropriately Islanders. Great video!
I was there last week. They’ve installed a barbed wire fence around the area at the roundabout. It doesn’t impede the views, but I guess there were some overly eager spotters, getting a bit too close up there!
Love that the video is almost twice as long as the flight haha
Well now that was epic! Great job!
I’m gonna do this exact thing on my honeymoon next year. Not telling my fiancé about the approach until we are on short final.
Cool vid and the steepness of the approach is crazy
I think this video is an excellent testament to the capabilities of the Twin Otter. Great video!
Excellent video of your exciting and challenging approach into St. Bart's! I felt like I was sitting in the jump seat! I am always amazed by the unique short field capability of the Twin Otter. Your travel videos are always educational and entertaining. Thanks for sharing!
An interesting fact about the island is it used to be a Swedish colony! Gustavia is named after King Gustav III of Sweden who was their king from 1771 to 1792! The island was Swedish from 1784 to 1878! France gave Sweden the island in exchange for French trading rights in Gothenburg, as the French deemed it economically unsuccessful due to pirates. With that, the Swedish West India Company was established, but the colony wasn't the success they hoped. Swedes declared Gustavia a free port, convenient for European trading for all kind of goods and contraband. Trade continued to flourish during the War of 1812 when 20% of American exports were routed via St Barthélemy. But Gustavia lost its free port status in 1839, and this began its decline as Sweden needed to provide financial support. The islanders faced a feverish epidemic that led to the deaths of 300 people in 1840, as well as a severe drought in 1850 and a devastating hurricane in 1852 followed by a fire.
Sweden no longer saw the colony as viable and attempted to give it to the US in the late 1860s. They even tried giving it to Italy, but Sweden stopped talks with Italy after realizing Italy wanted to use it as a penal colony! When Oscar II became Sweden's king in 1872, he approached France about returning the island, which they agreed to in August 1877, an island referendum in October had 350 votes (over 99 percent) in favor of returning to France, and the French officially reoccupied it in March 1878. As for how the island got its name, centuries prior, the island was named by Christopher Columbus for his younger brother Bartholomew Columbus in 1493.
The coat of arms of St. Barts still features the three golden crowns on a dark blue field, a very common motif in Swedish heraldry among the nobility.
My visits to St. Barts have been on Windstar 4-mast sailing ships. After an obligatory stop at the Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant, we'd walk up the hill and watch flight operations before heading back to the ship. I have flown Twin Otters on short hops before. The most memorable was between Papeete, Tahiti and Mo'orea. That flight is scheduled for 15 minutes, but that's gate to gate. It was about 7 minutes in the air. I could see the airport in Mo'orea from the small secondary terminal at Papeete's airport that was used for interisland operations. The seats in the Twin Otters you were on were nicer than what I had, which was slung canvas seat and back, like a director's chair. Single pilot, with his window open and his left arm resting on its sill. Talk about laid back!
Great job to the pilots 😮
6:48 smooth, landing in approach connected professionally
You know these guys know their business because they managed to pull it in to the ramp without having to turn around. It is not a forgiving runway.
Greetings from Colorado, Alex Praglowski! Very well done.
At first, I didn't see the subsequent and more edited compilation. This was good enough. Regardless, on our 2nd honeymoon, we had planned to stay in St Maarten. This was early December and WAY before the infernal intranet thingy-ma-Bob. In fact living in NW Georgetown, DC, I was a very serious plane spotter at the north end of DCA/ Reagan on the GW Parkway bike trail where at any given time, anywhere from 5 to 25 cars were parked at Gravelly Park and Boat Ramp less than 150 yards from the north approach to the Primary runway 19. Since the morning of Jan 1982 when Air Florida planted Flt #90 onto the 14th Street Bridge in a horrific driving snow storm at high rush hour...I digress. Anyone over 14yo at that time will remember the gory graphics from all 3 Networks. So we decided to hop over to SBH St Bart's for tennis and lunch at Le Select-the original Cheeseburger In Paradise in Gustavia...As a certified DCA Plane Spotter (I'll spare the nuanced explanation), I had utterly NO idea about the crash, the internet, social media-nada. In this video by Alex must have been filmed in early Summer. When I finally found St Bart's airport, Bay St Jean, Gustavia with the out door bar at Le Select / Cheeseburger In Paradise when Jimmy Buffet actually DID hang out there on many occasions back in the late 70's and the 80's there was NO airport terminal-just a shack and General Aviation. Which is where Buffet kept this and that planes from his large collection like other crazy stupid wealthy with their Mokes, no socks, and more likely a sailboat than on of the coup;le of dozen 100meter and UP Super yachts and Mega yachts clearly visible in this video anchored off-shore of Bay St Jean and Gustavia) or 40ft to 150ft weekender power boats. This logistical frenzy of transporting the uber wealthy to and fro a tiny island with two nations owning the island and ONLY STOL aircraft like these Twin Otters and Pilatus turbo-singles, well, you can begin to understand why St Barts is a mish-mash of destination, super low volume, usually a long-term stay or outright ownership of villas rather than over-priced hotels... FOR FURTHER SBH spotting, videos and even a 24hour videoCam of the airport:
ruclips.net/video/15pVqwQb7A0/видео.html
THIS is the infamous CRASH just after the sand and swimming were stopped off the runway:
ruclips.net/video/-z2o0acIlm4/видео.html
Which is AirBoyd's re-post of the original crash video which actually belongs to Mo Po on Vimeo at
vimeo.com/4875559
On which at LEAST 15 years ago, the creator actually expresses GRATITUDE to have the original crash 'ON TAPE!'
Always look forward to your videos, the views are certainly a welcome change from the Las Vegas desert!
Way to go Alex - excellent videography and great content
Fantastic! That's the flying trip of a lifetime for me, and you got to fly it! I've been a huge fan of the Twin Otter since I saw my first one back in 1978 at KPHL under the Allegany banner. They can get in and out of anywhere if you know how to wrangle 'em. I'd love to own one as an 'RV' so I could just live in it as I fly wherever I want when I want. And that St. Barts landing action is awesome! Almost like the military landing sequence used in hotspots where ground fire is an issue. Sweet! Thanks, Alex!
Even though it is short, I still enjoy the music you play at the end of your videos.....thanks!
There's a longer version! ruclips.net/video/bCTTwQ_269c/видео.html
Alex, I had a good chuckle over your your titles of the seating sections. "Economy Class" on a bushplane, LOL 😆 Thanks for a great video, and I look forward to your upcoming spotting vid!
Beautiful views thanks for the video amazing landing
Love the split screen view!
The approach is spectacular, but it's really not that bad. Saba is more difficult. On this one if you're on airspeed and your altitudes, it's about 800-1000 feet on short final. After you do it a few times it's pretty easy, especially with turbines where you can throw the props into beta. The people who get into trouble are the weekend warriors in SE pistons who are either out of practice, or don't even have the cert. They do ramp checks if they don't know you and people get busted somewhat regularly. What you can't see on the video is that the runway is sloped down pretty severely all the way down to the beach. So not only are you coming over that hill, you're landing on a downhill surface that slopes away from you.
Wow this is awesome, an avgeek bucket list item for sure. Imagine landing a commercial aircraft on that 2000 ft runway and making the taxiway instead of heading to the end of the runway.
The view on takeoff out of St. Bart's is stunning!
I actually took the ferry from SXM to St-Barths last year and it was a very enjoyable trip !
Flew in Dash-6s across Northern Ontario in 1979. Great planes.
Thanks, that was fun. Great camera work.
The cockpit view of the approach is intense!!🔥
I'd love to visit at one point. My mom and her fiance won a 7-day trip to the island in 2019 and stayed at the Cheval Blanc hotel while there. They didn't fly in though, as they were ferried from SXM. They did visit the airport knowing I'd like to have seen the approach and runway, and took a couple pictures for me. They also toured Gustavia and around the island on ATVs later in the week. I think there's only one traffic light on the entire island, unless that's changed by now.
Ive been to Sint Maarten and always thought about going to St Barts. Thats a WILD approach!! Will have to go this year.🍻
Amazing Video! Would love to see you fly to St. Helena one day..!
Thanks very Alex l really enjoy this unique video
Very cool video. St. Barts is in fact the 3rd most extreme airports by history channel due to a pretty steep descent to runway 10 and a pretty short runway of at least 600 meters
Alex hi from ya you guessed it Calgary. Holy hell that's like landing at COP. I love the lines in the grass from landing gear wheels. No matter where its always great to see a Twin Otter still flying.
Resolute is a great small runway flight. Also get to hop skip your way up there.
Awesome video, Alex.
Landing gears up is amazing
This is my dream destination! Thank you for review of that! COOOOOOOL!
Love it! If you get the chance, try doing this approach and landing in Microsoft Flight Simulator!
Just recently, a developer released a PC-12 with an official Tradewind livery included.
This, in combination with the 1:1 replica of our entire planet makes coming into St. Barts an experience only second to doing the real thing!
You can imagine my amusement, when I was first time at Eleuthera island of Bahamas, travelling there on Beechcraft 1900C. Not so funky as St. Barts but also - small airport, Carribeans, same fleur!
3:59 I'm impressed by those ceiling fans in the cockpit!😅
After looking at the Swiss001 vid abt SXM and St Barth, time foe Alex! Amazing video mate🔥🔥
Very nice video Alex Thanks
I was in St. Barth's back in 2006 when we stopped during a cruise, and we watched in awe of the planes landing. The first time we saw a plane coming in we were convinced that it was going to crash into the highway.
had to scramble for tickets to my trip to saba In 2019, but it was way worth it.
The katamaran had to go into dock & then i just had to go...
Awe you didn't go to Saba? Another great landing!!!
Not sure when you hit it but congratulations on 100k. 🎉
That approach :O love the WEEEEEEE
I flew the single Otter from Victoria to YVR and I was cramped, crowded and very uncomfortable at 5’7”. You are over a foot taller , so I could only imagine your level of misery in this twin otter.
Love your vids try to post more❤
Those engines sound beautiful.
Back in the 90s apparently a dash 8 made an attempt to land there
A win-air pilot can probably get a dash 8-100 in there 😅
Hm, wonder if a dash 7 could make it in an emergency
Those engines are just music to my ears. Other favourites include the A350 and Dash 8.
Hi Alex. After watching all the planes wiggling and jiggling as they come into land at St Barts, I i think its funny , that you mentioned the first Otter "bounced around" from one airline to another ....was that an intentional pun, or just a go4 choice of words ?🤣
Love your Excellent Videos, Mr. Praglowski ! I am an 'Aviation Freak', but I think I'd rather refrain from taking such a ride!
Thank you, though !! Roland Singh, Canada 🇨🇦
Those yachts are massive.
Hey Alex... whenever you come back around Toronto... Do some plane spotting in Hamilton (YHM)! There's some amazing vantage points, plus there's tons of variety here... AND we have the war plane museum! hope to see you here :)
Great job Alex
Having a underwear retail store in the terminal is a great idea!
Some guys just instinctively know how to have fun 😉👍🏻😂
There is another "short" runway strip in the islands that those carriers go to. If you had a chance to go to SABA. The landing distance is only 1300 ft. The Canadian Twin Otters can do it no problem, but not the Pilatus pc12.
Saba is a lot more mountainous as well.
@@Gameflyer001 Both are challenging approaches. The Twin Otter was made for such airports and approaches. As you can see it completes the landing in 700ft or less. You have to be certified to fly into these airports which takes multiple approaches in your training.
first st marteen now st barts insane.
EDIT: Respect to you for suffering in those tights spaces
I flew both those tails when I was there, Those pilots past and current have the best hands in feet in the industry
One thing that would be funny if the company would add a hidden cockpit switch that makes it seem that multiple random alarms go off during landing in the passenger part of the cabine.. just having some passengers scream out would be hilarious
Who’s been waiting for this video!
👇
me
And me !!!
Me
Like beggar.
Under ten minute gang! I love your videos btw
Hi Alex. The shot of the Cruise Ship Pier on your St. Maarten outbound flight looked familiar. We were on the Celebrity Silhouette in St. Maarten on Feb 20/23. Was that the date of your flight?
Love this!
Folks do these things so folks like me don’t have to. Great video. That approach would’ve called for a change of underwear for me.
Let’s gooo another banger
Lots of things on the internet are described as "insane". Few of them really are. Then there's St. Barts. 😎
I assume the "turn signal" lever on the left yoke is the nose wheel steering.
what was that thing you blurred to the left of pilots' hands in the windshield ?
Well done.
I flew in a twin otter on Brymon Airways in 1976. Plymouth to Jersey, perhaps the same plane!
The number of PJs at St. Maarten is nuts.
Hoping to go there one day! Ideally flying myself lol
My experience on this exact flight- fastest taxi ever, was more dangerous on the ground than the approach into St. Barths.
Too cool!
Yo Alex, I watched swiss001 at st barths and he saw a winnair dhc-6 twin otter taking off on runway 28
3:52 Sending to maximum overdrive 😂
How was the headroom for you in the cabin?
You make great videos
Been there three times only by boats from Saint Martin it’s a very expensive place to stay long term
St.Maarten and St.Barts I hope too Visit soon God's Willing Awesome Video Alex Praglowski nuff respect to all your Videos on Aviation and Travel keep going and Dream Big on Aviation Man 100%
Aah very nice!
What an awkward place to have the thrust lever!
Soooooooo jealous!!!
that fan at takeoff in the cockpit must help the plane takeoff XD
What Camera are you using for Planespotting?
you should try flying contour airlines with there interesting aircraft’s 😊
The scariest thing about Winair's Twin-Otter services to St.Barts is the fan near the throttle
Did you get to go Saba?
I flew on PJ-WII to Saba!
Subscribed!
thats cool
0:57 why is there an up side down Philippines flag
It’s the st maartin flag
I've seen hundreds of videos of this approach, but i never noticed THE TIRE MARKS
How long can these old airplanes stay safe? I'm not impressed with Winair efficiency in its operations.
How much you wanna bet his next travel vlog will be Saba lol