Landing on grass rather than the hard stuff
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Paul
See below
YouTube - C-GDET, Cirrus SR-20, takes off from a Sand bar on the Thelo
PS, I've never done it, but many have.
See below
YouTube - C-GDET, Cirrus SR-20, takes off from a Sand bar on the Thelo
PS, I've never done it, but many have.
Joined: Jan 2008
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: The Smaller Antipode
Sand.
Ouch has anybody actually done that ? Doesn't it positively spew sand all over the place ?
Ouch has anybody actually done that ? Doesn't it positively spew sand all over the place ?
Last edited by ExSp33db1rd; 9th January 2009 at 08:11.
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: The Smaller Antipode
However, hard runways can be as bad. I know of some (Elstree and Spanhoe being the worst) which are covered in stones....
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From: Londonish
Originally Posted by L2H
Hmm--them things, apart from their aerodynamic function, also stop rocks being thrown towards the fuselage/wings. That's how I punched a nice fist-sized hole right through the aileron in a Jodel last autumn (here's a pic of the offending "runway")
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From: Oxford
I've always tended to land a foot/18" left of the centreline and even in a flight sim with a TRE from a major airline observing, I did the same repeatedly and he couldn't see any tangible reason for it , just saying it wasn't dangerous and it was consistent (they lilke consistency.)
NB that on Barra (Scottish islands) there is a scheduled service which lands on the (licensed) beach airstrip. The AIP entry makes interesting reading.
Tim
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From: The Burrow, N53:48:02 W1:48:57, The Tin Tent - EGBS, EGBO
I did my first grass landing at Shobdon on my check flight but I had been in an aircraft which used the grass at Sherburn. If you want to try a landing on grass go to Shobdon when it hasn't been raining recently (the gliding fraternity might not appreciate having the runway chewed up) or, for a really lovely strip, Duxford where the grass is maintained to bowling green standards and which has the added attraction of the museum.
Pompey till I die
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From: Guildford
If you want to try a landing on grass go to Shobdon when it hasn't been raining recently
FARNBOROUGH EGLF 091320Z VRB02KT 4900 BR SCT009 M01/M01 Q1028
I've forgotton what flying wx looks like. Was hoping to fly on Sunday but am somewhat confused at the difference in opinion between the BBC & Met Office. BBC claim it's "very poor" visibility with the Met Office forecasting "Very Good". I bet it's unfliable though
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: UK
One guaranteed method of winning friends at freshly-mown grass strips is positioning one's aircraft tail-in towards clubhouse terrace/hangar doors/signals square, et al, before applying full throttle on shut-down/start-up. 
jez
jez
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From: E Anglia
Well over 80% of my flying has been off grass: I learnt (PPL) on grass (RIP Ipswich Airport) and currently fly an Arrow off grass.
All a total non-event.
The only problem I see with a grass strip is that it acts as an irresistible magnet to every chav in the area to come and carve it up doing do'nuts and handbrake turns in their Astras...
Not to mention the dog-walkers, horseriders , kite flyers and all manner of folk who think they have a god-given right to be there.....
Cusco
All a total non-event.
The only problem I see with a grass strip is that it acts as an irresistible magnet to every chav in the area to come and carve it up doing do'nuts and handbrake turns in their Astras...
Not to mention the dog-walkers, horseriders , kite flyers and all manner of folk who think they have a god-given right to be there.....
Cusco
Last edited by Cusco; 9th January 2009 at 16:58.
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From: The Netherlands
No, Middelburg (actually called Midden-Zeeland, EHMZ) is easy. Just ignore the field altogether and look for the point where you join downwind.
Regards,
LG
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: UK
If you want to try a landing on grass go to Shobdon when it hasn't been raining recently (the gliding fraternity might not appreciate having the runway chewed up)
'The grass is available' said the helpful guy on the radio. So power off again, full flap again, tight turn onto final for the grass, and a full rudder sideslip got me in OK well ahead of the 152 on the 'hard'. But as I swept over the boundary still in the full rudder slip on short final for the 'grass', I noted two glider pilots looking up at me with a jaundiced eye. Were they worried about 'their' grass, I wonder?
SSD
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: New Zealand
Most of NZ's local strips are grass and some are like billard tables. I prefer them as it's easier on the tyres and a little more forgiving in a crosswind. Even at Ardmore, I always takeoff on the seal but land on the grass.
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From: Abroad
Originally Posted by Mark1234
Erm, looks like Tignes I think,
but where's the 'runway'??
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From: Ireland
Originally Posted by Cusco
Not to mention the dog-walkers, horseriders , kite flyers and all manner of folk who think they have a god-given right to be there.....
are they walking on an airfield and point out the signs to that effect. (**TIP** make sure you have the signs up first). Have to say I never had the problem with the petrolheads cutting it up, if I did then my 12 bore would sort em 
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From: South Norfolk, England
Grass is ok ... this stuff isn't so nice -
Stubble!
Had to keep the tail on the ground all the way until lift off for fear of damaging the prop! The transition from hard to grass is easy (note what has been said and with that in mind treat it as if it were tarmac). Going from grass to hard is a little "harder" esp in a taildragger.
SS
Stubble!
Had to keep the tail on the ground all the way until lift off for fear of damaging the prop! The transition from hard to grass is easy (note what has been said and with that in mind treat it as if it were tarmac). Going from grass to hard is a little "harder" esp in a taildragger.
SS
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: UK
In respect of the short field versus soft field take-off, it would be normal to use a 'soft field' technique on grass. If there are obstacles on the climb out you would use the 'short field' technique, irrespective of surface. Where there is grass with obstacles the two procedures become the same.
KR
FOK
PS: I appreciate this is a Thread about grass landings, but it was discussed in earlier Posts.
KR
FOK
PS: I appreciate this is a Thread about grass landings, but it was discussed in earlier Posts.
Guest
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In respect of the short field versus soft field take-off, it would be normal to use a 'soft field' technique on grass.
There are considerations to trade off, e.g. sloshing fuel around tanks in a rolling take off, versus failing to accelerate.
The law of the situation disctates what needs to be in any particular instance, e.g. baking hot day, soil like concrete versus Febuary mudpatch
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From: E Anglia
jonkil wrote
Trouble is (in my experience) they've usually legged it back to their cars and scarpered by the time I turn round and taxi back to them..........
Except the fat cow who stood her ground and argued the toss that her kid had a perfect right to fly his kite on 200ft lines from the middle of the strip, despite red/white signs 2 feet high saying 'Danger, active airstrip, keep off'.
She prevented the a/c from landing for a good 10 minutes despite fly-bys as you advocate..
Cusco
Solve this by practising giving them a "short back and sides" using a 3 blade composite prop on full bore about 6 or 7 ft above the centerline, but always approach them from the front so you can see the white of their eyes, land, get out and give em a good talking to, asking them why the are they walking on an airfield and point out the signs to that effect. (**TIP** make sure you have the signs up first).
Except the fat cow who stood her ground and argued the toss that her kid had a perfect right to fly his kite on 200ft lines from the middle of the strip, despite red/white signs 2 feet high saying 'Danger, active airstrip, keep off'.
She prevented the a/c from landing for a good 10 minutes despite fly-bys as you advocate..
Cusco
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But as I swept over the boundary still in the full rudder slip on short final for the 'grass', I noted two glider pilots looking up at me with a jaundiced eye.
