Stapleford

[Squawk 2650]

Hey Guys and Girls,

Whats the airfield like?? I was just wondering how nice the grass is and how bad the transition from grass to tarmac can be when you land on 22 I think it is??

Thanks in advance,

S
:cool:

[LondonJ]

The transition is pretty much a non-event, just keep your weight off the nose wheel as per usual.

I have been there with pa28s and 38s and think that you can just about land them completely in the tarmac bit, so you'll be going quite slowly by the time you hit grass.

Nice cafe on the field as well, worth a visit.

[Squawk 2650]

Thanks for that. If your landing the other way though do you try and land on the grass first or try to avoid it?

S
:cool:

[LondonJ]

I believe you have a 600m run of tarmac, which shouldn't pose much problem for most light aircraft. BUT there is no reason why you can't land on grass (unless you are out of practice), in which case I personally would recommend using the full length of the runway, therefore you have that extra safety margin and could save yourself a go around.

[bar shaker]

LJ beat ne to it.

If 600m of tarmac is not enough, the least of your worries is the transition to grass ;)

[Rallye Driver]

They have put in Perfo where the tarmac stops, so there isn't a big dip any more. The grass is fine to use at present and on 04R you can land on the grass then roll onto the tarmac.

In the winter when the grass is boggy, we just use the tarmac. With the downhill slope it is a bit more tricky, just don't come in too fast and float!

On 22L, even with the displaced threshold there is 450m, which is quite enough, especially with the upslope to help braking.

What can hold tings up terribly in the winter is all the backtracking, which can result in very long waits at the hold.

Actually, as I also fly from Southend and North Weald, the 450m is good short field practice too. Again. The secret is not to come in too fast.

RD

[G SXTY]

Second that. The King Airs stop quite happily on the tarmac on 22L, so you wouldn't have much excuse for rolling onto the grass in a C152.:)

04R is a little more exciting because of the downslope, plus the grass is a bit bumpy. It's quite possible to stop a 152 before the tarmac, but you have to watch your speed quite carefully (i.e. don't come charging down finals at VNE, like I normally manage). If you do roll onto the hard stuff it's a non-event.

[twizzinav]

On 04 just aim for the numbers-no later, and come in slow and low and you'll stop way in front of the tarmac, then on 22 watch the pylons then keep your height just above hedge on threshold with power then cut the power as soon as you clear the hedge , as soon as you touch down on numbers your speed will decrease with up hill runway, then clear right

[IO540]

I went there in 2003 (it may have changed since) and the taxiing was ROUGH. The worst potholes/bumps I've seen, and a very dangerous (to the prop) transition from grass to concrete.

And this was on an aircraft which has 8" prop clearance, of which 3" is the nosewheel suspension travel.

I bet a lot of people have mangled their props there, not to mention landing gear. I wouldn't keep my own garden in that condition, though I'd say the same for many grass airfields.

Nothing that would concern one if one was renting :O

[AIRWAY]

I did some flying over there, also took some photos might be of help:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/v1rotate/Aviation/TurningontoFinals.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/v1rotate/Aviation/Stapleford.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/v1rotate/Aviation/Dsc00778.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/v1rotate/Aviation/Dsc00777.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/v1rotate/Aviation/Dsc00776.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/v1rotate/Aviation/Dsc00773.jpg

:ok: