Grass strip length

J

jlwilson

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Bogata, TX
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Joyce
Hi all,

Just a quick question. What's the shortest length grass strip you would feel comfortable landing a Husky, Maule or Super Cub at?

Thanks!

Joyce
 
Hi, Joyce!

Good to see you here. I can't answer your question specifically but I regularly take my 182 into a 1,200' strip. It's a bit tight but doable on all but the very hottest of days.
 
A practiced pilot in one of those should have no problem with 1000 feet. I've seen Super Cubs on my grass strip get to a full stop in under 600 feet and get their tires off the turf in less.
 
Hi Tim!

Long time! I've been lurking some but also just too busy on too many projects :). I just got a Husky and we're building a strip at the ranch. It's going to be 1200' in the clear with the 50' obstacles at the ends another 250' from each end. I talked with some taildragger instructors and they thought it would be plenty long enough, but I just wanted more opinions! You'll have to bring your 182 down :)

Joyce
 
Get it built and give me the coordinates! I'll be there. :goofy:
 
Sea Level 59ºF 1/2 tanks solo

Super Cub, stock 300'
Husky...500ft
Maule.....1000'
 
kgruber said:
Sea Level 59ºF 1/2 tanks solo

Super Cub, stock 300'
Husky...500ft
Maule.....1000'
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Sounds about right, altho the Maule spec looks a bit too long.. I would have figured 600-700 or so..
 
jlwilson said:
Hi all,

Just a quick question. What's the shortest length grass strip you would feel comfortable landing a Husky, Maule or Super Cub at?

Thanks!

Joyce
Click to expand...

I've taken my Citabria into a super cub strip around Fairbanks... Strip was 700ft with 30ft obstacles both ends :yikes: Landed in 300 (give'er take) and take off roll was roughly the same... I have a set of VG's on it, which by the way are incredible!
 
Thanks all! I thought I would be ok with 1200' but it's nice to hear from lots more experienced pilots! Did I mention that I have 100' wide :). Nice to have room to move around :). Maybe I can have my own fly-in sometime :)
 
jlwilson said:
Thanks all! I thought I would be ok with 1200' but it's nice to hear from lots more experienced pilots! Did I mention that I have 100' wide :). Nice to have room to move around :). Maybe I can have my own fly-in sometime :)
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100 foot wide...... Geez, I can land and take off sideways then....:yes::D
 
jlwilson said:
I just got a Husky and we're building a strip at the ranch.
Joyce
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Joyce, I'm happy for you that you will be able to have your own grass strip! :) Will it be in one of the areas that we looked at on our ride around your ranch?

Let me know when you're ready for people to fly in and I'll be down! :yes:
 
Hi Diana! It's my old horse pasture. We looked at some of the other areas that you and I saw, but this one is close to the camp so I'll have water and electricity :). Hopefully it will be ready later this spring. We actually got started on it a whole lot earlier than I thought we would. We have all the trees out now we have to fill some and build the pad for the hangar, then get grass growing :). I will definitely keep you posted. We'll have to do an inaugural fly-in!
 
jlwilson said:
Hi all,

Just a quick question. What's the shortest length grass strip you would feel comfortable landing a Husky, Maule or Super Cub at?

Thanks!

Joyce
Click to expand...

I'll go in as short as you can mow it, but generally no more than 6" or so.
 
Joyce,

BTW...you may have seen this but, if not, this is a pretty good "how to build a grass airstrip" pamphlet by the Tx Dept of Transportation. A bit dated but it has some good info.

http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/avn/avninfo/farm_ranch_airstrips.pdf

The most important thing you can do now is get the surface "baby-butt" smooth. If it's not smooth from the start then it's hard to get it that way later. A "harley rake" is a great tool for this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgeKwkJsWXE

They make them for skidsteers (like in this vid) and 3pt versions for tractors too. They can typically be rented at any equipment rental store. Up here the skidsteer version rents for $150/day. You should be able to do your entire runway in a day or two.
 
jlwilson said:
Hi Tim!

Long time! I've been lurking some but also just too busy on too many projects :). I just got a Husky and we're building a strip at the ranch. It's going to be 1200' in the clear with the 50' obstacles at the ends another 250' from each end. I talked with some taildragger instructors and they thought it would be plenty long enough, but I just wanted more opinions! You'll have to bring your 182 down :)

Joyce
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1200' for a Husky is plenty.

OBTW, you can land a lot shorter than you can take off. 200' is pretty normal in a husky.
 
Another vote for the Harley rake. I used it on my large wavy lawn, and it came out like a putting surface. Go a few times long way, then once or twice crossway, then one more time long way on the lowest setting(if adjustable depth), then seed, water, and it'll be like glass. Really helpful to get it nice the first time.
 
timwinters said:
The most important thing you can do now is get the surface "baby-butt" smooth. If it's not smooth from the start then it's hard to get it that way later. A "harley rake" is a great tool for this.
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You know what works surprisingly well?

PLOW the field, then DISC it to get it level and get the rocks out.

If you're doing a dirt strip, then you just roll it a few times to compact it. I dunno about grass, whether compacting is a good thing, but with dirt, the big problem with smoothing is that most people break the surface with a blade but leave the rocks, so when it settles, there are hard and soft spots.

As a byproduct, you end up with a big pile of rocks, which you can use for all kinds of things.
 
I wish we had some rocks. In this part of Texas there aren't any to be found. We've had to haul all of our gravel for our roads from Oklahoma. I'll definitely check out the harley rake. I agree it's more important to do it right the first time. I'm hoping to get Bermuda grass or something like it to grow on it. The hardest part will be keeping the feral hogs off of it. But then we do have a few ways to take them out :D
 
Fescue does seem to be really hardy. I'll look for that. Thanks for the info!!!
 
jlwilson said:
Fescue does seem to be really hardy. I'll look for that. Thanks for the info!!!
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Joyce, Ben's in Montana, a slightly different climate, check with your local grass specialists.

I'll bet you'll find that a drought tolerant Bermuda will be your best bet. It has a few advantages over "blade" grasses. One, it grows sideways and doesn't need to be cut as often. Two, it has a shorter growing season so, again, it doesn't need to be cut as often. Three, it re-roots as it grows sideways so it'll heal itself after you 'scrub' some off by skidding tires. Four, it "mats over" soft ground and remains firmer.*

These are Bermuda's advantages in the climates I'm familiar with...again, consult a local specialist.

*this from personal experience. Our local grass runway is mostly blade grass but has some areas where Bermuda has taken over. When the runway is soft and muddy, either from rain or from going through freeze/thaw cycles, the Burmuda areas are alway fine. The blade grass areas, not so much...rooster tails of mud coming off of my main gear and ruts left behind.
 
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Well, one of the best ones I found in your area on our trip was:
Dump%252BTruck.jpg


So, at least I'll buy you a photo!
 
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Definitely! I met a good grass guy (deals in sod :)), who has a C206 and can probably point me in the right direction :)
 
I know some folks who would bring a V-tail Bonanza into and out of 1,200'; not me, but assuming it's light, it will certainly do it.
 
SCCutler said:
I know some folks who would bring a V-tail Bonanza into and out of 1,200'; not me, but assuming it's light, it will certainly do it.
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I'm still waiting for your V-tail Bo to fly into my 2600' strip. :( ;)
 
jlwilson said:
I wish we had some rocks. In this part of Texas there aren't any to be found. We've had to haul all of our gravel for our roads from Oklahoma. I'll definitely check out the harley rake. I agree it's more important to do it right the first time. I'm hoping to get Bermuda grass or something like it to grow on it. The hardest part will be keeping the feral hogs off of it. But then we do have a few ways to take them out :D
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You have hog-removal devices? :D

Gaston's has Bermuda. We have fescue here in southwest MO, and sometimes we wonder if Bermuda would be better for us. All the other local strips have fescue as well. We need to re-seed our runways. The fescue clumps, making it more rough. Bermuda spreads on its own and has less upkeep, but it doesn't like the cold.

I think your idea of using Bermuda is a good idea.

You also might want to check with Walt M, who has that strip east of Dallas that I stayed at before I flew to see you. Also, Jed Keck who owns the Fort Parker Flying Field, might have some good input for you. I still hope to fly in there someday.
 
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