Can you get an Arrow 4 in to a 500metre strip
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Arrow short field
I used to operate an Arrow IV non turbo from a 500 metre grass strip and although it was fairly easy to land the take offs were always an "eyeballs glued to the panel" affair.
I only used to take off one or two people on board and never more than half fuel and the a/c was generally airborne at about 350 to 400 metres.
The margin for error was at a minimum and so I stopped doing it. I have previously flown to many short and confined strips in many differing types of a/c and am pretty competent at it if I have to blow my own trumpet. (I have also come unstuck on a couple of occasions !)
My advice would be as a one off if you absolutely need to go there and if you have buckets full of experience but otherwise don't risk it.
I only used to take off one or two people on board and never more than half fuel and the a/c was generally airborne at about 350 to 400 metres.
The margin for error was at a minimum and so I stopped doing it. I have previously flown to many short and confined strips in many differing types of a/c and am pretty competent at it if I have to blow my own trumpet. (I have also come unstuck on a couple of occasions !)
My advice would be as a one off if you absolutely need to go there and if you have buckets full of experience but otherwise don't risk it.
I have probably flown about 500 hrs in 7 different versions of the Arrow, with the exception of one ( Cherokee 180 Arrow with the Hershey bar wing) I would classify them all as performance pigs. On a hot day with full fuel and 2 up the take off distance and climb rate is pathetic.
I would be hesitant to take it out of a 400 m hard surface runway, no matter what the numbers say.
You simply leave no margin for error.
Grass has to many variables inherent to the "material".
Length of the grass has a significant effect on the numbers. Manufacturers generally do not provide charts for various grass lenghts.
The underlying turf is also important, how hard is the underlying surface?
What time of day? Moist grass with a soft surface underneath in the mornings?
Aviation is one of those deals where you don't want to re-invent the wheel.
Have others taken similar aircraft into this strip or are you the guinea pig?
How much time do you have in this particular aircraft? How well do you know it? You can have a fair amount of difference between two aircraft of the same make and model. Rigging,fuel control units, mixture settings, propeller wear, flight control cable tension,you name it.
To learn the performance of this particular aircraft: practice.
Take it into a long grass strip and practice landings at various speeds, flap settings,fuel loads, forward and aft CG etc.
Use markers or measure the distance between various reference points.
Even if you now can inconsistently do it within a specified distance, it's only a educated guess as to what you will be able to do at that other strip.
The grass length will be different, any slope will be different and the underlying surface will be different.
I would be hesitant to take it out of a 400 m hard surface runway, no matter what the numbers say.
You simply leave no margin for error.
Grass has to many variables inherent to the "material".
Length of the grass has a significant effect on the numbers. Manufacturers generally do not provide charts for various grass lenghts.
The underlying turf is also important, how hard is the underlying surface?
What time of day? Moist grass with a soft surface underneath in the mornings?
Aviation is one of those deals where you don't want to re-invent the wheel.
Have others taken similar aircraft into this strip or are you the guinea pig?
How much time do you have in this particular aircraft? How well do you know it? You can have a fair amount of difference between two aircraft of the same make and model. Rigging,fuel control units, mixture settings, propeller wear, flight control cable tension,you name it.
To learn the performance of this particular aircraft: practice.
Take it into a long grass strip and practice landings at various speeds, flap settings,fuel loads, forward and aft CG etc.
Use markers or measure the distance between various reference points.
Even if you now can inconsistently do it within a specified distance, it's only a educated guess as to what you will be able to do at that other strip.
The grass length will be different, any slope will be different and the underlying surface will be different.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Short strips
Didn't come unstuck with the Arrow IV, it was a long time ago on a planet far far away.
I am now older and less bolder !
I do however now fly a Twin Comanche from a 600 metre grass runway.
I am now older and less bolder !
I do however now fly a Twin Comanche from a 600 metre grass runway.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Godzone
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How about Glassonby in a PA28?
Last edited by toolowtoofast; 27th Nov 2007 at 20:30.
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: UK,Twighlight Zone
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just went and got an aircraft that could operate out of these short strips with ease!!!!!
I think a lot of farm strips are "short" (although I don't consider 450m near short in my Cessna) because a lot of farmers did and still do fly old tail wheel type aircraft that require little ground.
They are not public strips so just cut them to meet their own needs. most of the farm strips I fly into (thanks to local contact and introduction to the flying farmers) hold a wealth of beautiful old aircraft maintained by flying enthusiasts. The common theme is most of them are classics and don't require much in the way of grass!
Granted there are more modern types as well but they tend to be of the homebuild permit type and again require little in the way of runways.
I think a lot of farm strips are "short" (although I don't consider 450m near short in my Cessna) because a lot of farmers did and still do fly old tail wheel type aircraft that require little ground.
They are not public strips so just cut them to meet their own needs. most of the farm strips I fly into (thanks to local contact and introduction to the flying farmers) hold a wealth of beautiful old aircraft maintained by flying enthusiasts. The common theme is most of them are classics and don't require much in the way of grass!
Granted there are more modern types as well but they tend to be of the homebuild permit type and again require little in the way of runways.
