Here is a new link that was below the radar for me, any pilots with comments on this site:http://www.stbarth.fr/sbw/sbhswings/fr/accueil.htm

[Mike]

Re: St. Barths Flying Club

Erma, The only thing that jumps out at me is that the low wing Piper would allow the door to stay above water for a short period of time allowing it to be opened. On the flip side the Cessna has two doors.
Hopefully I'll never have to compare the egress characteristics in a forced landing over water situation.
Mike

 

[Brian]

Re: St. Barths Flying Club

I have a sketchy memory of once reading that because the wing provides what flotation there might be, you're better off being on top of the wing (eg, Piper) than below it (eg, Cessna) in the event of a ditching.

Because counting on a land-based plane to float at all seems pretty crazy to me, I agree with Mike on not testing this theory!

Brian

 

[Erma]

Re: St. Barths Flying Club

Brian,

That was the reason! Again, sometimes I don't quite understand with the translation but that was for sure what was described.
Maybe the thought is every second would count in the event you had to ditch the plane in the most likely place...the sea.

Also, thanks for the "BN" link/explanation.

Take care, Erma

 

[gregb]

Re: St. Barths Flying Club

Here is another link to a st barts flying club.

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/adsb/le_club.htm

 

[gregb]

Re: St. Barths Flying Club

Here are some nice photos apparently shot by local St Barths pilots.

http://www.pilotlist.org/balades/stbarth/stbarth.html