Farm strips
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Farm strips
I've never flown into a farm strip but would quite like an introduction to the experience!
So, if there's any regular farm strip visitors not too far from Denham who are willing to show me the ropes do let on!
So, if there's any regular farm strip visitors not too far from Denham who are willing to show me the ropes do let on!
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who are willing to show me the ropes
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This really is not the best time of year. Most strips will be suffering from the warm wet winter to some degree or another. It is so easy to cut up soft wet strips.
Most strip owners are very cautious about inviting in strip-neonates as the propensity for bugger-ups is high. Strips are different to airfields and most owners do not encourage/want/enjoy circuits and that is precisely what you need to "learn the ropes".
Suggest that you practice landing on the numbers without dragging it in and once your prowess becomes known, you might find yourself being invited somewhere different.
Stik
Most strip owners are very cautious about inviting in strip-neonates as the propensity for bugger-ups is high. Strips are different to airfields and most owners do not encourage/want/enjoy circuits and that is precisely what you need to "learn the ropes".
Suggest that you practice landing on the numbers without dragging it in and once your prowess becomes known, you might find yourself being invited somewhere different.
Stik
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Hi, first thing I usually ask is what aircraft are they flying and have they been into other strips. For example a PA28 is not the sort of aircraft that goes into 400m strip easily, a C172 is a better machine with half tanks. Depends what you are flying and what strips you want to visit, there are some longer ones, but they are all PPR. If you want any advice PM me.
Will.
Will.
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Suggest that you practice landing on the numbers without dragging it in and once your prowess becomes known, you might find yourself being invited somewhere different.
"I say old boy, I've been admiring your shortfield technique from a distance and am sufficiently impressed as to be moved to suggest that we go off and do some strip flying"
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The strip alongside English Bicknor is the very wonderful Eastbach Spence - definitely challenging, and I don't recommend it as a first farmstrip, or even a second or third. You really need your wits about you.
There are two strips, on adjacent sides of the hill, so you usually land on one and take off on the other. Even taxying is a challenge.
However, on a calm summer evening, it is great fun and is definitely the friendliest place I've ever visited, really exceptionally nice folks there.
http://www.spenceairfield.co.uk/
There are two strips, on adjacent sides of the hill, so you usually land on one and take off on the other. Even taxying is a challenge.
However, on a calm summer evening, it is great fun and is definitely the friendliest place I've ever visited, really exceptionally nice folks there.
http://www.spenceairfield.co.uk/
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I think 30 at Denham is QUITE short enough for me!
Am thinking of going to Clacton to do their short-stripping course before I drag myself out of Denham looking for little fields
Let us know if you find some nice local ones that don't mind visitors.
Adam
Am thinking of going to Clacton to do their short-stripping course before I drag myself out of Denham looking for little fields
Let us know if you find some nice local ones that don't mind visitors.
Adam
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super cub or stearman - born for grass - come to Compton and i will show you the tricks of the trade..... word of warning tho - as with all flying you need to stay current, dont bother with strip flying techniques unless you going to keep them current, oh and dont forget that you never stop learning..! 
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Having flown most of my flying career from a farmstrip in what many would describe as an unsuitable aeroplane, may I offer a few pointers.
Firstly, get a copy of the CAA Safety Sense booklet 'Farmstrip flying' (copy on website)and read it from cover to cover.
Then as has already been said , if you are used to flying off a mile of tarmac, practise landing on the numbers (or some nominated point) from a reasonably steep approach till you nail it every time.
Once you've cracked it go and do the same into a licensed grass airfield,( if you've never flown from grass the noise and bumps can be initially off-putting) till your short field landings are right every time.
Then select a grass strip not too far away from your base from all the offers you get from here (not!) and drive over to it, pace it out (remember a human pace is way under a yard) and talk to the owner who will brief you about length/slope/hazards/cables/location of nimbys/soft bits.
Then check your a/c POH to make sure performance is not an issue. Chose a nice day with wind straight down the runway and go with an instructor or at the very least someone who does plenty of strip flying.
Telephone ahead for PPR and to check grazing sheep do not have to be corralled and that the surface is firm and the grass is not too long.
If you can get the Lat/Long: ( take your GPS with you when you visit by road, clock the coordinates) and look it up on Google Earth, taking a photo is also a good idea.
Then you'll be ready to fly in: when you do remember that there are very likely to be non-appreciators of our hobby on the ground. This means avoid doing circuits: if you must do circuits and it's possible to vary them from left hand and right hand then do so, if not vary the size of the circuit so you don't overfly the same area a dozen times.
Also avoid sudden changes of throttle/engine note as that is sure to cause many pairs of anxious eyes to gaze skywards waiting for the 'plummet'.
Once you are used to your first strip, you can venture further afield to enjoy some of the best bits in flying.
Oh and when landing/ taking off always have a 'reject' point on the ground in your mind : decide quickly and firmly to go-around or abort if it's going t*ts up.
Above all enjoy the farmstrip experience: if ever you feel the strip might be 'marginal' then bin the idea.
Safe flying
Cusco
Firstly, get a copy of the CAA Safety Sense booklet 'Farmstrip flying' (copy on website)and read it from cover to cover.
Then as has already been said , if you are used to flying off a mile of tarmac, practise landing on the numbers (or some nominated point) from a reasonably steep approach till you nail it every time.
Once you've cracked it go and do the same into a licensed grass airfield,( if you've never flown from grass the noise and bumps can be initially off-putting) till your short field landings are right every time.
Then select a grass strip not too far away from your base from all the offers you get from here (not!) and drive over to it, pace it out (remember a human pace is way under a yard) and talk to the owner who will brief you about length/slope/hazards/cables/location of nimbys/soft bits.
Then check your a/c POH to make sure performance is not an issue. Chose a nice day with wind straight down the runway and go with an instructor or at the very least someone who does plenty of strip flying.
Telephone ahead for PPR and to check grazing sheep do not have to be corralled and that the surface is firm and the grass is not too long.
If you can get the Lat/Long: ( take your GPS with you when you visit by road, clock the coordinates) and look it up on Google Earth, taking a photo is also a good idea.
Then you'll be ready to fly in: when you do remember that there are very likely to be non-appreciators of our hobby on the ground. This means avoid doing circuits: if you must do circuits and it's possible to vary them from left hand and right hand then do so, if not vary the size of the circuit so you don't overfly the same area a dozen times.
Also avoid sudden changes of throttle/engine note as that is sure to cause many pairs of anxious eyes to gaze skywards waiting for the 'plummet'.
Once you are used to your first strip, you can venture further afield to enjoy some of the best bits in flying.
Oh and when landing/ taking off always have a 'reject' point on the ground in your mind : decide quickly and firmly to go-around or abort if it's going t*ts up.
Above all enjoy the farmstrip experience: if ever you feel the strip might be 'marginal' then bin the idea.
Safe flying
Cusco
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Cusco's advice is spot on.
Just about everytime I land away from my own strip, I am landing on something fairly short..... claypans mostly. There are a few techniques that I have learnt over the years, but would take a small book to write them up. Hopefully you will be using a Cessna 172 or similiar. Very forgiving and yet very manageable a low speeds.
Apart from the landing surface (we don't have too many lush green pastures here) the hazards which can hamper your approach are of utmost importance. Power lines, antennas, some trees can be invisible until you are just about upon them. Have a good look around on the ground if possible beforehand as suggested. Obviously if it is regularly used as a strip then the hazards may not be a problem, but if it is just someones paddock then have a god hard look.
Its great fun and you really get to hone your skills, and get to know the planes performance.
Good luck and have fun
Just about everytime I land away from my own strip, I am landing on something fairly short..... claypans mostly. There are a few techniques that I have learnt over the years, but would take a small book to write them up. Hopefully you will be using a Cessna 172 or similiar. Very forgiving and yet very manageable a low speeds.
Apart from the landing surface (we don't have too many lush green pastures here) the hazards which can hamper your approach are of utmost importance. Power lines, antennas, some trees can be invisible until you are just about upon them. Have a good look around on the ground if possible beforehand as suggested. Obviously if it is regularly used as a strip then the hazards may not be a problem, but if it is just someones paddock then have a god hard look.
Its great fun and you really get to hone your skills, and get to know the planes performance.
Good luck and have fun
Excellent Advice from Glider Pilot
Glider pilots get to drop in on farmers from time to time. A lot of what's necessary for outlandings applies to strips.
Read until memorised:
Off Airport Landings by Kai Gertsen
Just remember that a glider pilot can make do with 500', but airplanes generally need quite a bit more.
Read until memorised:
Off Airport Landings by Kai Gertsen
Just remember that a glider pilot can make do with 500', but airplanes generally need quite a bit more.
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Farm Strip Course
Hi stickandrudderman,
Forgive me if I am a bit vague about this; farm strip flying has never been of particular interest to me.
However, I do seem to remember that there was an outfit at Southend Airport that used to advertise proper courses in farm strip flying. If I remember correctly, they used to do the courses on a Piper Supercub.
I've never been to Southend so I have no personal knowledge about the setup there, but no doubt there will be a Southend Airport website through which you can discover the names of the clubs and FTOs that are based there. You can then 'phone around them.
Good luck.
Broomstick.
Forgive me if I am a bit vague about this; farm strip flying has never been of particular interest to me.
However, I do seem to remember that there was an outfit at Southend Airport that used to advertise proper courses in farm strip flying. If I remember correctly, they used to do the courses on a Piper Supercub.
I've never been to Southend so I have no personal knowledge about the setup there, but no doubt there will be a Southend Airport website through which you can discover the names of the clubs and FTOs that are based there. You can then 'phone around them.
Good luck.
Broomstick.
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I would agree completely with Cusco apart from one important point -
Apart from the career instructors, most instructors out there will probably never have landed on a strip - The second option is probably more viable.
When checking out, I have found that If a pilot has been trained or is flying from long tarmac runways then it usually blows their mind - they are not used to short runways with trees and hedges in close proximity. I have found otherwise experienced pilots who literally go to bits on finals.
Because of this, I now go nowhere near the strip initially - Chose a small grass airfield (Fenland or Derby are ideal) and see what happens!
Speed control amongst a lot of pilots can be dire - unstabilised and too fast and there is usually very little concept of landing at the right speed on the numbers to gain the maximum length available. This does not matter on a large tarmac runway, but is VITAL on most strips, although to be fair, the last guy I attempted to check out was an AFI with a frozen ATPL and he was desperate - Worst ever!
We will do several circuits (at the proper airfield) where we are looking for the ability to fly a tight, speed stable circuit and to land and be stopped before the half way point without trashing the brakes or nosewheel. If that all works out then we try the strip!
and go with an instructor or at the very least someone who does plenty of strip flying.
When checking out, I have found that If a pilot has been trained or is flying from long tarmac runways then it usually blows their mind - they are not used to short runways with trees and hedges in close proximity. I have found otherwise experienced pilots who literally go to bits on finals.
Because of this, I now go nowhere near the strip initially - Chose a small grass airfield (Fenland or Derby are ideal) and see what happens!
Speed control amongst a lot of pilots can be dire - unstabilised and too fast and there is usually very little concept of landing at the right speed on the numbers to gain the maximum length available. This does not matter on a large tarmac runway, but is VITAL on most strips, although to be fair, the last guy I attempted to check out was an AFI with a frozen ATPL and he was desperate - Worst ever!
We will do several circuits (at the proper airfield) where we are looking for the ability to fly a tight, speed stable circuit and to land and be stopped before the half way point without trashing the brakes or nosewheel. If that all works out then we try the strip!
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Speed control amongst a lot of pilots can be dire - unstabilised and too fast and there is usually very little concept of landing at the right speed on the numbers to gain the maximum length available. This does not matter on a large tarmac runway, but is VITAL on most strips, although to be fair, the last guy I attempted to check out was an AFI with a frozen ATPL and he was desperate - Worst ever!
We will do several circuits (at the proper airfield) where we are looking for the ability to fly a tight, speed stable circuit and to land and be stopped before the half way point without trashing the brakes or nosewheel. If that all works out then we try the strip!
We will do several circuits (at the proper airfield) where we are looking for the ability to fly a tight, speed stable circuit and to land and be stopped before the half way point without trashing the brakes or nosewheel. If that all works out then we try the strip!
There is a fair number of very experienced farm strip pilots out there who can show you the ropes, but very few instructors.
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Usually flying from miles of tarmac runway, I decided no too long ago to try unlicensed airfields (some of which are farm strips). I have used a PA28-151 (as has been said, maybe not the most suited of aircraft if you fly with full tanks, and it is quite heavy so can take some stopping! But its Vso at MTOW is only 44 KIAS if I recall), now use a Robin DR400-160 
Much lighter .
As mentioned above, speed control is of the essence, so is controling your approach slope and touching down precisely where you want. If any of these 3 parameters do not look right on short finals, go around. Basically, it's the closest thing to aircraft carrier landings you can experience in a light aircraft!
When going into short fields, it's also important to assess whether the surface is dry, damp or wet (check the CAA "Safety Sense" booklet for the increments in landing/take-off distances on wet grass etc.) So get a briefing from the PPR. I find that going onto http://www.ukga.com helps - there are pictures (some taken by yours truly ) of quite a few short fields. Studying them before setting off helps. Don't fly in with full tanks. Check out your POH for take-off/landing distances required. It goes without saying you should use some stage of flaps on t/o. Don't go into the more challenging grass strips right away. As has been said, start with something fairly easy (preferably licensed), then as you gain confidence, work you way up (or is it down?) to shorter fields.
I now prefer flying into short strips (be they tarmac or grass); it's a nice change from the 3,600 m of asphalt you get at CDG, HAM or FCO!
I recently sampled the "dreaded" Netherthorpe in a Robin -160; two POB, 3/4 full tanks, damp runway 24, yet by landing "on the stall warner" (3 ft. off the ground, anyway!), we stopped by the intersection - so used less than half the 370m LDA. I can't see why people make a big deal of it - unless they came unprepared
Cheers
Much lighter .As mentioned above, speed control is of the essence, so is controling your approach slope and touching down precisely where you want. If any of these 3 parameters do not look right on short finals, go around. Basically, it's the closest thing to aircraft carrier landings
you can experience in a light aircraft!When going into short fields, it's also important to assess whether the surface is dry, damp or wet (check the CAA "Safety Sense" booklet for the increments in landing/take-off distances on wet grass etc.) So get a briefing from the PPR. I find that going onto http://www.ukga.com helps - there are pictures (some taken by yours truly
) of quite a few short fields. Studying them before setting off helps. Don't fly in with full tanks. Check out your POH for take-off/landing distances required. It goes without saying you should use some stage of flaps on t/o. Don't go into the more challenging grass strips right away. As has been said, start with something fairly easy (preferably licensed), then as you gain confidence, work you way up (or is it down?) to shorter fields.I now prefer flying into short strips (be they tarmac or grass); it's a nice change from the 3,600 m of asphalt you get at CDG, HAM or FCO!
I recently sampled the "dreaded" Netherthorpe in a Robin -160; two POB, 3/4 full tanks, damp runway 24, yet by landing "on the stall warner" (3 ft. off the ground, anyway!), we stopped by the intersection - so used less than half the 370m LDA. I can't see why people make a big deal of it - unless they came unprepared
Cheers