B58 Baron TODR & LDR
B58 Baron TODR & LDR
A friend of mine has just bought acerage and wants to base a Baron on his own patch of turf. Its flat with no obstructions and he plans to lay a strip of asphalt down the centre. The advertising material say the ground roll for TO is around 750m and landing groundroll about 350m.
How much strip length would be adequate for the average competent PPL holder for a Baron. I'm not talking about distsnce of the usual 50'ft obastacles, just the length of the blacktop that would be advieable to lay down. Obviously the shorter the better, ie less cost. For simplicity sake seal level elevation and ISA conditions.
How much strip length would be adequate for the average competent PPL holder for a Baron. I'm not talking about distsnce of the usual 50'ft obastacles, just the length of the blacktop that would be advieable to lay down. Obviously the shorter the better, ie less cost. For simplicity sake seal level elevation and ISA conditions.
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Oh this is going to turn into an interesting thread.
Going to be two schools of thought.
One will be all about planning permission and all that for building an airport,
The other will be hey you're just building a machinery shed and a road.
Then again why not just leave it as short grass.
Airport? what airport. It's just a huge paddock that I like to mow often.
Let the arguments begin.
Going to be two schools of thought.
One will be all about planning permission and all that for building an airport,
The other will be hey you're just building a machinery shed and a road.
Then again why not just leave it as short grass.
Airport? what airport. It's just a huge paddock that I like to mow often.
Let the arguments begin.
Last edited by tlf; 13th Nov 2006 at 21:21.
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Fly 'baron' From 'barren' Field..!!!
i used to fly one but from paved runway..
i learned on a citabria from a grass field and i still prefer grass. i agree with TLF..if the surface is good and does'nt prevent or curtail winter operations...why not leave it grass and save the expense...
sorry...forgotten the figures but you'll get plenty data soon...
gear up..
dean.
i learned on a citabria from a grass field and i still prefer grass. i agree with TLF..if the surface is good and does'nt prevent or curtail winter operations...why not leave it grass and save the expense...
sorry...forgotten the figures but you'll get plenty data soon...
gear up..
dean.
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Caap 92-1
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nomorecatering,
can't imagine you would need much more than 750m, but it would depend on where you are in aus and how many kgs you push through the doors. i used to fly for a bloke and only ever had a max of two passengers and a little luggage, we used to operate out of a 500m gravel strip and make it quite easily.
Asphalt is not the only option, barons are quite happy flying in and out of gravel, dirt and grass strips, so long as you treat em right.
you want some more exact figures p.m me
ILVC
can't imagine you would need much more than 750m, but it would depend on where you are in aus and how many kgs you push through the doors. i used to fly for a bloke and only ever had a max of two passengers and a little luggage, we used to operate out of a 500m gravel strip and make it quite easily.
Asphalt is not the only option, barons are quite happy flying in and out of gravel, dirt and grass strips, so long as you treat em right.
you want some more exact figures p.m me
ILVC
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I'd definitly go the 1000m plus (maybe even 1200m) cos one day its gonna be hot and you'll have lots of fuel onboard and you'll want to take that extra person (and he's a big cow cocky too) and the engines only have 10 hours to run to TBO etc etc etc.
Then ...
you'll have an engine failure just below blue line.
You know the old saying about runway behind you and altitude above you ...
It's my opinion too that you don't nessesarily need bitumen.
Then ...
you'll have an engine failure just below blue line.
You know the old saying about runway behind you and altitude above you ...
It's my opinion too that you don't nessesarily need bitumen.
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I agree too that the bitumen is probably unnecessary unless he is somewhere where it rains a lot and all weather operations are required. Regarding the length, I also suggest considering who else (other than the Baron owner) might use it and in what types of aircraft. Cross-wind limitations and the prevailing winds should be seriously nutted out.
A key consideration is looking after it once it’s been built. Airstrips must be fenced both to protect aircraft and to avoid the surface being ruined by animals clomping around in the mud in the rain. A wide slasher and decent tractor (ideally with smooth tyres) is pretty much essential for efficient mowing. It will also require weed spraying on occasions and a windsock.
One of our airstrips is 1300m and longer than we require, but it's peace of mind for other pilots who use it in more speedy complex craft. It's also a great help when the wind is howling and you want to carry a couple of extra notes or have a bit more room.
One other matter is to consider the effect of any surrounding terrain or other obstacles. The calculated obstacle clearance might mean that in one direction its TODA is much longer than the other. The obstacle doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't clear that end either, even if only as stopway in case of the V1 engine failure etc. If others are to use it, he will need to think about marking it out, setting up a parking area and producing a diagram and information sheet, as well as insurance. Airservices can provide an aerodrome code and that's much easier to use than ZZZZ in flight notifications.
It can all amount to a bit of work if it is to be done properly, but hopefully the efficiency gains outweigh the cost and effort of on-going tasks.
I wrote an article some time ago about this - send me a PM if you'd like a copy.
A key consideration is looking after it once it’s been built. Airstrips must be fenced both to protect aircraft and to avoid the surface being ruined by animals clomping around in the mud in the rain. A wide slasher and decent tractor (ideally with smooth tyres) is pretty much essential for efficient mowing. It will also require weed spraying on occasions and a windsock.
One of our airstrips is 1300m and longer than we require, but it's peace of mind for other pilots who use it in more speedy complex craft. It's also a great help when the wind is howling and you want to carry a couple of extra notes or have a bit more room.
One other matter is to consider the effect of any surrounding terrain or other obstacles. The calculated obstacle clearance might mean that in one direction its TODA is much longer than the other. The obstacle doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't clear that end either, even if only as stopway in case of the V1 engine failure etc. If others are to use it, he will need to think about marking it out, setting up a parking area and producing a diagram and information sheet, as well as insurance. Airservices can provide an aerodrome code and that's much easier to use than ZZZZ in flight notifications.
It can all amount to a bit of work if it is to be done properly, but hopefully the efficiency gains outweigh the cost and effort of on-going tasks.
I wrote an article some time ago about this - send me a PM if you'd like a copy.
