How much damage to grass?
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Oxford
Gosh, what a lot of people worried about my safety/legality/insurance!
To set your minds at rest (a) there is no question of my doing it if the insurance won't cover it; (b) the space in question is (without measuring) at least 800m x 400m, possibly larger, and the largest app/dep obstacle would be trees; (c) as it would be done with the landowner's permission and the school is not in a built-up area (not even nearly) there should be no problems with rule 5. I've certainly landed in smaller spaces and on much less well-tended grass. And I wouldn't do it in the rugby season - the posts are the highest in the country apart from Twickenham, apparently, but they are taken down from January to September.
Anyway, thanks to those who answered the question - reassuring. I'll let you know if I actually do it.
Tim
(PS it's been interesting to be on the receiving end of the worried PPrune instant reaction 'oh, you can't do that, it's illegal/dangerous...' when that wasn't the point of the question!)
(PPS Monocock - it's a slab-winged PA28-180 and I'd almost certainly do it one-up and with modest fuel, as it's only 15 minutes flying time from my home airfield.)
To set your minds at rest (a) there is no question of my doing it if the insurance won't cover it; (b) the space in question is (without measuring) at least 800m x 400m, possibly larger, and the largest app/dep obstacle would be trees; (c) as it would be done with the landowner's permission and the school is not in a built-up area (not even nearly) there should be no problems with rule 5. I've certainly landed in smaller spaces and on much less well-tended grass. And I wouldn't do it in the rugby season - the posts are the highest in the country apart from Twickenham, apparently, but they are taken down from January to September.
Anyway, thanks to those who answered the question - reassuring. I'll let you know if I actually do it.
Tim
(PS it's been interesting to be on the receiving end of the worried PPrune instant reaction 'oh, you can't do that, it's illegal/dangerous...' when that wasn't the point of the question!)
(PPS Monocock - it's a slab-winged PA28-180 and I'd almost certainly do it one-up and with modest fuel, as it's only 15 minutes flying time from my home airfield.)
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: South East
Hi
If you are sure you have the bases covered then go for it. Just make sure that you have listened to some of the good advice here. Esp on the condition of the grass. If you have not flown from grass then have a play at a grass airfield (Waltham is not far from Oxfordshire).
If the field is well drained and the grass is in good condition then you will do no damage to the grass other than 3 PA 28 size tyre marks.
Pardon me for making an assumption, but because you asked the question in the first place I take it you have little grass runway experience. Please get a hold of the performance safety leaflet on performance and do your sums.
After that please post the photos and have FUN. I have done something similar in a PA-18 a long time ago when I was young and immortal (Stupid).
Hey Monocock perhaps some of the BA pilots whinge at some of the things they see because they are VERY experienced in aviation (This is not an invitation to slag off BA please). Some of my colleagues are hugely experienced GA pilots.
Fly safe and regards to all
Wide
If you are sure you have the bases covered then go for it. Just make sure that you have listened to some of the good advice here. Esp on the condition of the grass. If you have not flown from grass then have a play at a grass airfield (Waltham is not far from Oxfordshire).
If the field is well drained and the grass is in good condition then you will do no damage to the grass other than 3 PA 28 size tyre marks.
Pardon me for making an assumption, but because you asked the question in the first place I take it you have little grass runway experience. Please get a hold of the performance safety leaflet on performance and do your sums.
After that please post the photos and have FUN. I have done something similar in a PA-18 a long time ago when I was young and immortal (Stupid).
Hey Monocock perhaps some of the BA pilots whinge at some of the things they see because they are VERY experienced in aviation (This is not an invitation to slag off BA please). Some of my colleagues are hugely experienced GA pilots.
Fly safe and regards to all
Wide
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From: UK
(PS it's been interesting to be on the receiving end of the worried PPrune instant reaction 'oh, you can't do that, it's illegal/dangerous...' when that wasn't the point of the question!)
As to the grass, virtually no damage at-all so long as it's reasonably dry. Probably some tiretracks that'll be visible for a few days only - particularly if there's a decent proportion of clover in the grass, which most playing fields should have.
G
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Oxford
particularly if there's a decent proportion of clover in the grass, which most playing fields should have
It's that kind of school. Imagine acres and acres of perfectly flat, perfectly mown grass, and you can see why I want to put an aircraft onto it. Particularly as they've just built a new pavilion which is the spitting image of a control tower (indeed the pupils are already calling it that... not that I've been encouraging them!)
Tim
(to those who are worried - yes, I've flown from grass - see my thread about Weybourne for example!)
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: New South Wales
JFDI! If it's dry the grass will be OK.
So many people on this forum appear to be afraid of their own shadows that it makes you wonder how they cross the road, let alone step into an aircraft.
I grew up and have lived in Switzerland, which is known as the land of regulation, but you get given a lot more rope to hang yourself with there than in the UK these days. This is turning into a very anxious little country.
Let's have a bit more adventurous spirit and encourage this kind of thing, rather than huddle in the corner, cravenly wringing our hands.
QDM
So many people on this forum appear to be afraid of their own shadows that it makes you wonder how they cross the road, let alone step into an aircraft.
I grew up and have lived in Switzerland, which is known as the land of regulation, but you get given a lot more rope to hang yourself with there than in the UK these days. This is turning into a very anxious little country.
Let's have a bit more adventurous spirit and encourage this kind of thing, rather than huddle in the corner, cravenly wringing our hands.
QDM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 376
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From: The Front of Beyond
Tim,
I think I know the school you're talking about, begins with the letter R, and they used to (and may still do) hold firework concerts there in summer. From what I remember the grouds are pretty extensive.
If you tell me when you're planning to do it I may decide to come and watch.
Good Luck
Brooklands
I think I know the school you're talking about, begins with the letter R, and they used to (and may still do) hold firework concerts there in summer. From what I remember the grouds are pretty extensive.
If you tell me when you're planning to do it I may decide to come and watch.
Good Luck
Brooklands
