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Story: Topdressing

Hill-country airstrip

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Hill-country airstrip

Topdressing pilots prefer the airstrip to have a reasonable slope. This allows easier take-off with a full load, and a shorter landing distance when returning to reload. This airstrip at the Whatawhata hill-country research station is a good example.

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by John Maber

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How to cite this page

John Maber, Topdressing – Commercial developments of aerial topdressing, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/16557/hill-country-airstrip (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by John Maber, published 1 March 2009.