As tourists stand on the beach, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner swoops in to land less than 100 feet above their heads. Hands in the air, they pose for photographs. Later, they might be asked whether the pictures are real.

Maho Beach, on the northeastern Caribbean island of Saint Martin, is a haven for aviation geeks and thrill-seekers. Because of its small size and unique geography, the landing strip at Princess Juliana International Airport is separated from the beach by a single road. In peak season, there can be between 50 and 70 flights landing every day, almost close enough to touch.

“It’s scary,” says Franklin Wilson, who works in the operations department at the airport. “It feels like it’s coming straight at you.”

An avgeek’s dream

Princess Juliana Airport sits in Sint Maarten, the is

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