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Could a Herc land here?

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Could a Herc land here?

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Old 14th Nov 2006, 08:06
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Could a Herc land here?

Ignoring the fact that there are goal posts and the surface is of unknown quality, I was wondering if the field in this map http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl...m=1&iwloc=addr would be big enough to land a Hercules on, and have it take off again.

It's a question asked out of idle curiosity.

The field in question was the location of the first aerodrome in Manchester, back in the 1910s. My ATC Sqn has recently been given a plaque by the local council to commemorate the fact.
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Old 14th Nov 2006, 09:11
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Originally Posted by PhoenixDaCat
Ignoring the fact that there are goal posts and the surface is of unknown quality, I was wondering if the field in this map http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl...m=1&iwloc=addr would be big enough to land a Hercules on, and have it take off again.
It's a question asked out of idle curiosity.
The field in question was the location of the first aerodrome in Manchester, back in the 1910s. My ATC Sqn has recently been given a plaque by the local council to commemorate the fact.
J could almost definately do it (diagonally), although you might want to cut the trees down at each end! As for clearing the houses at each end, I am not so sure....

K could probably do it if you stripped out the external tanks, Air Eng, occupier of the seat that smells of wee then put 4 J model engines on it. Then again, they would probably be flying with a dozen other K crews down the back, or say they couldnt do it as its not route flying/Exercises to the states or the Far East.
 
Old 14th Nov 2006, 09:22
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Ignoring the fact that there aren't any goal posts and the surface is of known quality, I was wondering if the field in this Maphttp://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF...80509&t=k&om=1would be big enough to land a Hercules on, and have it take off again.
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Old 14th Nov 2006, 09:27
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Ignoring the unhelpful replies above, it looks a wee bit short to me - you would need roughly 6-10 football pitches lengthwise (depending on the pitch size) to be able to get in and out with a little flex. Diagonally it may be possible however. Of course, there would also have to be a survey on the loadbearing capabilities of the ground itself. Unfortunately, the surrounding obstacles - houses/trees/ditches/grass banks etc, I think, would be the major 'stopper'.
....and um, the footie/rubgy posts would need removing (as already mentioned).
Added to the fact that the land is in the middle of a built-up area and a major international airport is only a stone's throw away, I would think you are shovelling uphill in a BIG way.
If, on the other hand, there is a major commemoration going on sometime, then inviting the Red Arrows to flypast or, more likely, the RAF Falcons to drop in, might be more appropriate. The organising committee of the show would have to write a suitably grovelly request to the RAF Participation Committee at
RAF Participation Committee Secretariat
Room 24,
B Block
RAF HQ, Strike Command
Naphill
High Wycombe
HP14 4UE
Best of Luck
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Old 14th Nov 2006, 09:33
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A 130A was successfully landed at the former Tipton Army Airfield in Maryland, said to be a 3000' hard runway. A quick glance at the Google map you posted shows about 3000' available......
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Old 14th Nov 2006, 09:39
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Flipster,
That's yesterday's organisation for displays etc. If you want to apply for RAF participation in 06/07 you need to write to:

RAF Events Team,
Adastral Hall,
PO Box 1000,
RAF College Cranwell,
Sleaford,
Lincs,
NG34 9GZ

They have now consumed the old PC from High Wycombe.

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Old 14th Nov 2006, 09:42
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Originally Posted by airborne_artist
A 130A was successfully landed at the former Tipton Army Airfield in Maryland, said to be a 3000' hard runway. A quick glance at the Google map you posted shows about 3000' available......
Southside boys might be able to do it in their current config with a little help like below:
JATO Unit T/O
And I am sure we have all seen the video of the SPAMS attempting to light JATO units airborne as well in Fat Albert. Not pretty. Think it stopped in one football pitch length.
JATO Unit LANDING

Last edited by mbga9pgf; 14th Nov 2006 at 10:04.
 
Old 14th Nov 2006, 09:43
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Apparently, here is ok now


http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl...83942&t=k&om=1

but not after 2012
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Old 14th Nov 2006, 09:48
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Originally Posted by BluntedAtBirth
Apparently, here is ok now


http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl...83942&t=k&om=1

but not after 2012

Yeah, thats if the 0.8% gradient off 24/16 does not pose an obstacle to the K that is!
 
Old 14th Nov 2006, 09:51
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Steer the playing field into wind and you'll be ok.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mK_9ZGAi7c
 
Old 14th Nov 2006, 09:54
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Originally Posted by mbga9pgf
Yeah, thats if the 0.8% gradient off 24/16 does not pose an obstacle to the K that is!
24/16? I didnt know there was a runway 16 at Lye. Unless of course they are practicing landing on the grass just in case they receive a request to land on a field in 'Manchester' for instance.
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Old 14th Nov 2006, 09:56
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Thanks Ginsters

Sorry about OOD info - that's Google for you!
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Old 14th Nov 2006, 09:59
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Originally Posted by movadinkampa747
24/16? I didnt know there was a runway 16 at Lye. Unless of course they are practicing landing on the grass just in case they receive a request to land on a field in 'Manchester' for instance.
Cheers Easy
 
Old 14th Nov 2006, 10:09
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You can park a C130 here. Just make sure the ground isn't too soft.
 
Old 14th Nov 2006, 17:43
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Cheers for the replies.

I think that the fact any form of bash we have to unveil the plaque would be on a saturday, and that would be the biggest show stopper!
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Old 14th Nov 2006, 18:05
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Hard to get aircrew excited about a plaque, in all seriousness. Do you have a local branch of Hooters who'd like to sponsor the post-unveiling party - now that could make a difference
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Old 14th Nov 2006, 21:39
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Hooters? In Manchester? It would probably be better named Munters.
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Old 14th Nov 2006, 22:30
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Why would you need a Hooters in Manchester....they've got Bredbury Hall.
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Old 15th Nov 2006, 02:23
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Using the scale in the lower left, the field appears to be approx 1800' from SW to NE (ignoring the trees as obstacles, but not considering anything beyond) - that's enough to land a lightweight herk. No margin for error & you'd obviously be operating MOS/Assault.
Going from SE to NW, if there were no hedgerows or fences prior to the road, you'd have right at 3000' - more than adequate.
The J has no real advantage over the K in this case, except for when it came time to depart, then the K might struggle with a TO ground run of only 1800' feet whereas the J would likely be off by midfield!
Until the advent of the J, the Herk has always been able to land at fields it could not depart from, but with the J, it can now depart fields it cannot land at!
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Old 15th Nov 2006, 02:57
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Kind of a chicken and egg thing
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