Which way do you turn for your run-up?

Which airplane best represents where you do your run-up?

  • Red airplane

    Votes: 22 25.6%

  • Blue airplane

    Votes: 45 52.3%

  • Other (please explain)

    Votes: 19 22.1%
  • Total voters
    86
RussR

RussR

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Russ
Had an entertaining discussion with another CFI yesterday about "Which way do you pull into a runup area"? It was entertaining because we had both been taught different methods by our first instructors, and have been doing it that way for decades, even though we know about the other method. Unlike many topics, neither is "wrong" exactly, and neither is "unsafe", so it was a pretty light-hearted discussion about primacy and how strong that effect really is.

So I pose a poll: Given a typical GA airplane and a typical run-up area as depicted in the picture, which way do you most often pull in to do your run-up? The red airplane (continue straight ahead along the taxiline then turn away from the runway) or the blue airplane (follow the outline of the runup area and then turn around).

Please don't get wrapped up in the details of how far you pull up or exact headings and such.

Just curious!

Run up area2.png
 
Other. In that area of the red plane but with the tail pointed towards the grass to the left so I don't blow debris onto the taxiway/other planes etc. at roughly a northeasterly heading to view other planes taxing and those landing.

edit: blue line and then do the above
 
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Put me down for blue, but my plane ends up much closer to the grass to not block other traffic that may go ahead of me.
 
You are just asking which way we taxi into the area, not which direction we face during runup, correct? I would go up the blue route, but not as close to the runway as you have the little blue plane. I'd also angle the plane differently.
 
mscard88 said:
In that area of the red plane but with the tail pointed towards the grass to the left so I don't blow debris onto the taxiway/other planes etc. at roughly a northeasterly heading to view other planes taxing and those landing.
Click to expand...

:yeahthat:
 
Based on which way to taxi, blue plane. Prop wash goes away from the pavement (and other airplanes).
 
The blue path gets me out of the way of anyone behind me a little sooner. Not that it really matters. It also keeps me farther away from anyone holding short. And, at our local airport the taxi lines are painted that way so it "seems like" the way to go.
 
There are three criteria.
1. out of the way
2. no damaging prop blast
3. view of base and final traffic
 
Blue path. Never thought of doing it differently.
 
Red line, but I generally pull further back down the run-up area so that other aircraft can pull in behind me when it's busy. I also angle the tail to the the prop wash goes out over the grass instead of directly behind me.
 
If nobody is in the run-up area, blue and I'd stop a lot further away from the taxiway. We have G-V's and similar that operate out of our home airport and their wingspan is larger than the taxiways. Need to give aircraft like that plenty of room so they can get by. Pulling forward toward the taxiway makes you a hazard to them.
 
mulligan said:
Red and Blue make Purple - So Purple with Tail pointed as ^^^
Click to expand...

I've seen ****ing Mulligan do his ****ing run up at KBHM, and he ****ing does it on the ****ing runway after being cleared for takeoff, especially if Delta is on a ****ing tight final. But it only takes about 45 ****ing secs and the ****ing Delta flight going around, and the ****ing tower let's him ****ing get way with it because they meet him for ****ing pizza and beer later. Seriously. No ****ing ****.
 
It takes me about 40 seconds in a single to complete the before takeoff checklist and run-up. I usually just do it at the hold short line.
 
Removed the highly offensive image with detail on par with a child's crayon drawing.
I apologize. That was truly shocking.

Here is a photo of a butterfly on a unicorn. Everyone can put their eye bleach away.

unicorn-and-butterfly-kiss-butterflies-26941051-500-375.jpg
 
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mscard88 said:
I've seen ****ing Mulligan do his ****ing run up at KBHM, and he ****ing does it on the ****ing runway after being cleared for takeoff, especially if Delta is on a ****ing tight final. But it only takes about 45 ****ing secs and the ****ing Delta flight going around, and the ****ing tower let's him ****ing get way with it because they meet him for ****ing pizza and beer later. Seriously. No ****ing ****.
Click to expand...

Well if ****ing Delta didn't ****ing charge me so ****ing much for my ****ing tickets, I may be a little more ****ing considerate of my ****ing run-up locations. **** em
 
Red I guess, seems like more planes would be angled towards the runway and the blue line is more likely to take me through someone's prop blast, however I like to avoid the "run up area", it's like a parking in a parking lot filled with student drivers and dented cars, I try to do my runup by my hangar, or if no one is behind me, while taxing or at the hold short.

Going into a runup area where other planes might also be there, that's just asking for some greenhorn CFI or weekend warrior to kick rocks into your plane.
 
None of the above. I just follow center line towards the hold short line. Halfway through the right turn I stop which puts my tail 45° to the taxiway and do my run up. Allows me to see traffic, keeps me on center line, and keeps propeller blast from hitting anything behind me.
 
blue line, but with only a 90° turn towards the runway
 
Grum.Man said:
None of the above. I just follow center line towards the hold short line. Halfway through the right turn I stop which puts my tail 45° to the taxiway and do my run up. Allows me to see traffic, keeps me on center line, and keeps propeller blast from hitting anything behind me.
Click to expand...

It's nice to be able to pivot about your axis.
 
I normally just taxi towards the rear of the ramp and turn towards to active runway and do my run up, it takes less than a minute in either airplane, keeps the prop blast away from any airplanes behind me and gives me a view of the final approach path. So pretty much what he said! :)
gkainz said:
blue line, but with only a 90° turn towards the runway
Click to expand...
 
I use the teardrop entry, which is the blue path. Depending on the wind, I'd pull up facing east so there would be room for someone to pull up next to me (to the south).

The red path looks like someone who's chilling out and letting everyone pass him, which is what I might do if I knew it was going to be a while before I was ready to go (ie IFR clearance, with a student, troubleshooting an issue, etc.).
 
I go any way I effing want....honey badger don't care.
 
Red but facing into the wind if there's no reason not to...like someone else around to blast.
 
I always tried to teach my students to runup into the wind, but none of the other instructors at the flight schools that I worked at did (they just faced the runway), making for airplanes pointed at awkward directions in the runup area, so I gave up. :(
 
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