Grass Runway Questions
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Grass Runway Questions
What sort of actions can cause a grass runway surface to become unusable for a period of time?
The only things I could think of was a drainage problem, heavy rainfall or lack of maintenance.
Anyone offer any other suggestions?
The only things I could think of was a drainage problem, heavy rainfall or lack of maintenance.
Anyone offer any other suggestions?
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Mowing operations?
Cows, sheep or deer grazing?
I landed once, not realizing how high the grass was, and had to do several taxis up and down the field in order to compact the grass down enough to fly out.
Also, wet grass can be very slippery for braking action. That is, if you intend to use brakes.
Cows, sheep or deer grazing?
I landed once, not realizing how high the grass was, and had to do several taxis up and down the field in order to compact the grass down enough to fly out.
Also, wet grass can be very slippery for braking action. That is, if you intend to use brakes.
Last edited by wanabee777; 6th Jan 2016 at 08:52.
Grass runways are often closed as a preventative measure when rainfall has occurred or about to, so as to prevent damage.
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Geology...the type of soil the grass is growing on.
Light, sandy loams drain well. The black soils of the Darling Downs can be bottomless pits when really wet. Granitic sands can turn to porridge. Red clays become horribly slippery.
But I love grass runways and use them whenever I can.
Kaz
Light, sandy loams drain well. The black soils of the Darling Downs can be bottomless pits when really wet. Granitic sands can turn to porridge. Red clays become horribly slippery.
But I love grass runways and use them whenever I can.
Kaz
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Be careful taking off at night. If the runway hasn't been used for awhile, its probably a good idea to taxi to the end and back; why, to make sure all the little critters get out of your way. Did that once many years ago without the taxi and it was like taking off through the local zoo! Live and learn.
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I rang the Port Fairy dood once:
G'day, what condition is the strip in?
It's in great knick, no problems.
Land there in a 182, it pulls up in about 50 metres. The grass was nice and long, obviously hadn't been mowed for months, coupla good rainfalls. It was in great knick alright. If you're a farmer with cattle or sheep to feed.
When you ring somebody to get a condition report on a strip, ask them if they're a pilot.
G'day, what condition is the strip in?
It's in great knick, no problems.
Land there in a 182, it pulls up in about 50 metres. The grass was nice and long, obviously hadn't been mowed for months, coupla good rainfalls. It was in great knick alright. If you're a farmer with cattle or sheep to feed.
When you ring somebody to get a condition report on a strip, ask them if they're a pilot.
Arrived in the circuit area of Mount House Station WA. Heavy overnight rain. Was flying a RAAF VIP HS 748. Earlier had phoned the station manager by phone from Derby to get a strip report. He said strip wet but OK. He was a man of few words. Posed the question again in terms this time more familiar to him.
"Have you seen DC3's land at Mount House with the strip wet?"
"Yeah - many times."
Fine by me because if a DC3 can land on wet grass and not get bogged, then so can an HS 748. At least that was what the test pilot in England told us in as many words a few weeks earlier.
We did a very low run over the strip at slow speed and the strip looked innocuous enough. Besides we had the word of the groundsman and he should know.
Touched down and deceleration was good. Turned for the 180 just before the end and then promptly bogged the mains and nose wheel.
By sheer good fortune there was a road grader on the property. We got a message via a runner to Mount House where the Governor General (I think it was Lord Casey and entourage) was staying and said stay put and enjoy the wine until we get the plane un-bogged. The road grader did a wonderful job and our crew helped with shovels clearing the mud from the wheels.
The station manager arranged for several of his indigenous workers to walk along the centre part of the strip up to the take off end to check for boggy bits, while we taxied ever so slowly behind the last man who kept on looking over his shoulders at our props.
The GG arrived an hour later and climbed aboard. According to the property owner we could be stuck at Mount House for a couple of weeks if we didn't get airborne as all roads were cut with flooding. We arranged for the workers to station themselves along the full length of the airstrip and next to any boggy areas they saw.
As we started the take off run, each worker would frantically point at each wet patch they could see on the strip . We would rudder to weave around around each spot while the workers would dash for the side of the strip as we approached them. Nothing dangerous of course but a change from the normal dead straight take off run.
All went well and we got to Alice Springs our destination where a RAAF BAC One-Eleven was waiting to take the GG direct back to Canberra. The Commanding Officer who was captain of the BAC One Eleven had a go at me and my crew for having mud all over our nice uniforms. You can't please some people...
"Have you seen DC3's land at Mount House with the strip wet?"
"Yeah - many times."
Fine by me because if a DC3 can land on wet grass and not get bogged, then so can an HS 748. At least that was what the test pilot in England told us in as many words a few weeks earlier.
We did a very low run over the strip at slow speed and the strip looked innocuous enough. Besides we had the word of the groundsman and he should know.
Touched down and deceleration was good. Turned for the 180 just before the end and then promptly bogged the mains and nose wheel.
By sheer good fortune there was a road grader on the property. We got a message via a runner to Mount House where the Governor General (I think it was Lord Casey and entourage) was staying and said stay put and enjoy the wine until we get the plane un-bogged. The road grader did a wonderful job and our crew helped with shovels clearing the mud from the wheels.
The station manager arranged for several of his indigenous workers to walk along the centre part of the strip up to the take off end to check for boggy bits, while we taxied ever so slowly behind the last man who kept on looking over his shoulders at our props.
The GG arrived an hour later and climbed aboard. According to the property owner we could be stuck at Mount House for a couple of weeks if we didn't get airborne as all roads were cut with flooding. We arranged for the workers to station themselves along the full length of the airstrip and next to any boggy areas they saw.
As we started the take off run, each worker would frantically point at each wet patch they could see on the strip . We would rudder to weave around around each spot while the workers would dash for the side of the strip as we approached them. Nothing dangerous of course but a change from the normal dead straight take off run.
All went well and we got to Alice Springs our destination where a RAAF BAC One-Eleven was waiting to take the GG direct back to Canberra. The Commanding Officer who was captain of the BAC One Eleven had a go at me and my crew for having mud all over our nice uniforms. You can't please some people...
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Grass runways!
You got to have Fat tyres! they big, and they round.. those boys in the city, run em ittiy bitty...
https://vimeo.com/16561627
You got to have Fat tyres! they big, and they round.. those boys in the city, run em ittiy bitty...
https://vimeo.com/16561627