I came across an interesting article about the Merrill Field Airport (PAMR) in Alaska, located one mile east of downtown Anchorage (PANC). The airport has (among its 3 Runways), a special (2000 ft) gravel Runway (5/23) that caters to airplanes with tundra tires in the summer and skis in the winter. Anchorage being a major city, it can be understood that, there is demand for such a special runway in the vicinity of the city for emergency landing of such (equipped) planes, e.g. those originating from the interior parts, on emergency medical airlift missions. Prior to this, in winter, landing had to be carried out on one of the nearby by lakes, in the Anchorage region, such as the Big Lake, but it could add considerable additional delay for transportation when "timing is everything"..!

The same (5/23) Runway, at PAMR, is used, in summer, for airplanes equipped with Tundra Tires, because, those, huge, balloon-like tundra tires are made of soft rubber compound that happen to wear quickly on asphalt. Such tires work well on bumpy, and unpaved airstrips, but they are dangerous on smooth tarmac (will keep in mind). Therefore, the other two available asphalt Runways, in the airport, are not recommended for such operations.

There are no jet-based operations at this airport. But, here is an interesting detail:

"There is one retired Boeing 727 donated by FedEx used as a training aid, which is based at the airfield. It is not airworthy. When it landed in February 2013, the Boeing 727 was the largest aircraft ever to have landed at Merrill Field. The landing required special permission from the city, and preparatory surveys of the runway and airfield infrastructure to ensure the aircraft could be landed safely; and the captain practiced the landing in a flight simulator beforehand."

So, please find below two images of the C-47 Skytrain on Skis taking-off and landing on this (special) runway at Merrill Field (set to Winter Season). The model and texture (base model by Manfred Jahn), I happened to spot today at the Flightsim Library. Enjoy.

Edited September 1, 20196 yr by P_7878

Fascinating. I've visited Merrill Field several times in the past on vacation in Anchorage, so this was doubly interesting for me. Several Antonov AN-2's were on site...first I'd ever seen "in the flesh." Combine Merrill Field with the floatplane activity on Lake Hood and you have a one-of-a-kind destination for plane-spotting enthusiasts.The only city in the world where I've ever seen an Aeronca Champ parked next to a 7-11 store.

John

Edited September 1, 20196 yr by John F

John: Thanks. Great tidbits of information...nothing better than first-hand experience of such localities...!

It's interesting that you've referred to "Lake Hood". I almost came to mention this Lake (with Big Lake). I was reading the account of a Bush Pilot, who, before the Ski runway opened at Merrill Field, was flying his friend (in medical emergency) to Anchorage, and first attempted to land on the nearby Lake Hood, but the ice was not thick enough for his Ski-plane...So he had to divert to Big Lake...

But, agree, the SPB activity on Lake Hood, on a good sunny day, must be wonderful for enthusiasts...!

And, of course, AN-2s and Aeronca are classics surely worth seeing in-person...