Short Final

While landing a Beech Sierra at Sioux City Gateway Airport (KSUX) one blustery summer day (winds 32, gusting to 40, more or less straight down the runway), I chose to use full flaps in an attempt to achieve the minimum possible landing roll — just for practice. … Well the gusts got the best of me. I’d just get the mains wheels down, and a gust would put me back in the air three or four feet. After three attempts, the plane finally landed and stayed landed on the fourth. … Humbled and somewhat embarrassed, I radioed tower: “How’d you like that landing?” … The reply was prompt: “Which one?” — Hugh Bennett (Gillette, WY)

While landing a Beech Sierra at Sioux City Gateway Airport (KSUX) one blustery summer day (winds 32, gusting to 40, more or less straight down the runway), I chose to use full flaps in an attempt to achieve the minimum possible landing roll — just for practice.

Well the gusts got the best of me. I'd just get the mains wheels down, and a gust would put me back in the air three or four feet. After three attempts, the plane finally landed and stayed landed on the fourth.

Humbled and somewhat embarrassed, I radioed tower:
"How'd you like that landing?"

The reply was prompt:
"Which one?"


Hugh Bennett
Gillette, WY