I was flying a jet on the Slovakia map and my little girl wondered if it would be possible to land in the grounds of Trencin castle. Well, not in a jet obviously.

So modelled on Skorzeny's rescue of Mussolini, the challenge is to take off from Trencin AB on the Slovakia map, land within the castle then take off again and fly home.

Only took me about 15-20 tries!!

Cool! Gonna have to try that.

I understand the particular plane for the challenge is the flyer's choice, right?

yes sure (what did you have in mind?)

It's not level enough to land a Lerche.

Also the folds in the ground make it hard. It looks like there's a stack of room on the pic above but you'll find the useable space much smaller.

I'm guessing the U-2 might make it too. That seems to fly in the smallest gust.

For my first attempt I took up that cute Russian biplane, I-15 M-22 of 1934... but I crashed horribly. I don't have time now, but later I'll try again, and with a different aircraft perhaps.

yes i think the landing speed is a bit high and it has no flaps

Anyway, thanks for the idea. At least something posing a real challenge, forcing to achieve a certain goal and making us hone our flying skills, besides, the scenery there is absolutely gorgeous

Just been trying in a U-2. Landing gear keeps collapsing but I feel it could work if I try more. Could really use some flaps.

Tried in a U-2, too... no success... even though the crate stays airborne at amazing 50 mph, after the touchdown I seem unable to come to a halt within the perimeter of the courtyard walls. Geez, and I thought I was a decent pilot...

After all that F-16 experience those funny little flying machines are such a refreshing change...

Managed it in the U-2!

I found the trick was not to go across the wall as you then can't get low enough quick enough. You need to sidle in past the rising wall in the first shot then get her down with full back stick and applying quite a lot of wheelbrake and some right rudder, while tipping left to land evenly on the slope.

Once you stop then full brake and full engine to turn around to the right then down the longest run of slope close to the wall then up with left rudder before the ground fold tips you over. Then a quick jaunt through the streets of Trencin and home.

Congrats, Ian, well done!...

BTW - I was able to easily land on one of the main town streets approaching from its extension road outside the town.
Is your install the 4.11.1 + HSFX6?

yes 4.11.1m and hsfx 6017.

Yes that street is the widest.

Is anyone skilled enough with the mission builder using UPRC4 to enable the G11 glider to be an air start whilst the Storch FW189 and Aunty Ju take off fron Trencin, or will they all have to be Air Start ? Other suggetions from the UPRC4 plane list would be welcome.

OK will start the G11 at Piestany and tinker with the start height to reach Trencin.

AS an aside I have also tried a Pegasus Bridge Mission and will look at a Merville Battery Mission, also there was a Glider drop in Belgium on a fortification early on by the Germans.

Eben Emael? Classic.

Starting at 3000m which is probably not historically accurate you reach Trencin with plenty of height so 2000m may work OK. The landing however is another matter! Yes Eben Emael is what I was thinking of. Gotta start browsing ground objects for Eben and Merville. Sadly in real life none of the gliders made it to Merville. I have spoken to a veteran at Pegasus Bridge who was in the fourth glider that landed five miles away and had to fight his way to the bridge, for me a humbling experience that put things into perspective. If I cobble something together it will be dedicated to those guys.

Well the chap who first relieved Pegasus was called Colonel Pine-Coffin. I ask you, would you follow a chap with a name like that into battle?

Oh, what war was it without such macabre annecdotes...