Im planning to put in a 400 metre (1300') grass strip on one of my paddocks. I'm getting it prepared in the next couple of weeks, and hope to seed it then. I'll take advice locally on the best sort of grass to suit my local climate & conditions.
But I'd be grateful to hear from anyone who operates off a farm grass strip. In particular, what is the width? I'd like to keep the costs down, so would be good to hear views on this. Also any ideas for watering, rolling, & general care needed.
I don't want to lay gravel or dirt because of damage to the prop. Plus I can put some sheep on the strip to graze it.
Well it sounds like you have a great deal going for you. Just about 2800' of electric fence to get the sheep where you want to have your strip and then move around would seem to help greatly with the cost of mowing. Sounds like a winner to me. I have operated off 50' wide strips with no problems if they are part of a larger field that is in hay. But I have had to get out at the end of the strip and turn the plane around by hand cause I lack brakes. That will not be a problem for you.
But I'd be grateful to hear from anyone who operates off a farm grass strip. In particular, what is the width?
I've operated from grass strips for many years. One was 75 x 1700 feet and the one I'm using now is about the same width and 2000 feet long. More than enough for any Minimax.
Mine is 1200' X 75'. My brothers is 1400'X70. A good roller is a good idea( the roller used on mine wasn't the best, and I can tell it), and both of us just mow them on a regular basis. Spray for dandelions sometimes. We both fly Pietenpols from them with no problems and the miniMAX is right at home on either one Larry
a mile of road will take you a mile, a mile of runway can take you anywhere.
200yds x 12' (yes FEET!) until I had an Efato and the owner grudgingly widened it to around 20'. Seems quite luxurious now
Blimey! that must keep your concentration levels up. And here was me thinking was 10 metres a bit tight?
Flying off a very wide airfield grass strip, I'd never really considered how much - or little - I actually needed, width wise. I got my STOL's sorted ok, just never thought about width.
I flew into a tighter strip than that lined with field corn on both sides and hundred foot pine trees on both ends, I think I put my nike brakes to work when I took back off in my pup, I would never land their again it was about 1500 ft long m aybe less, it was like climbing out of a jungle!
The strip I used to fly from also had corn growing right to the edges of the runway...landing there in late summer was like landing in an alley. 75' of runway only leaves about 25' of clearance from each wingtip to the corn.
The strip I used to fly from also had corn growing right to the edges of the runway...landing there in late summer was like landing in an alley. 75' of runway only leaves about 25' of clearance from each wingtip to the corn.
It was narrower than that believe it or not. My skypup had a wingspan of 31 feet, this was many years ago so my memory might be a bit shady like how Big that 12 foot bass I caught when I was fishing. but I had a wing tip clearance of 6 ft on both sides from the corn.
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