Advice on Farmstrip

[old no 7]

Hi All,
I'm looking for advice on building a farm-strip and have some questions.

First some background info:
• Length available 398m
• Groot Marico Area
• Altitude 3825ft
• Will be used mainly for my MT-03 gyro, but thinking of developing a micro-light fly-inn location

Now my questions:
1. Is 398m sufficient? (obstacles at end of runway about 25ft high)
2. What is best surface, grass or gravel? (grass [kikuya] will be kept short by four legged wooly mowers)
3. What is best placement of windsock?
4. What size windsock?
5. What else do I need to consider?
6. Oh yeah, do I need to jump through any legal hoops?

[Stan]

Check out viewtopic.php?t=5577&highlight=eia on this site or do a search on EIA to get relevant articles. There was quite a discussion on the legal requirements from an environmental perspective. There was a similar discussion on AVCOM.

The answers to your first 5 questions depends on what you want to have land there. I'll land anywhere where there is about 200-300m open area and I can see where the wind is coming from. Lekka weightshift microlight and STOL aerrie

If you want more info on the environmental regs, pm me your email address and I will help where I can.

[old no 7]

Thank you for the response Stan,
You may have noticed that legislation is low on my priority list because I believe the govt has far greater priorities of sorting out our power and crime issues than interfering in a few harmless aviators who care more for the environment than most.

[CHARLIE WHISKEY]

Hi No.7

Know the area very well. Theuns Snyman 083 227 9602 is just around the corner of Groot Marico. He's got a beautiful grass strip (done it himself).
Maybe MT-03 and Magni M16 can hook up.

Cheers

[Low Level]

Hi old 7

400 m in a gyro, with obstacles, is pushing it a bit. Perfect conditions, only p.i.c, piece of cake. It is when you have a heavy pax, full fuel and a bit hot, when you going to hang the gyro in the trees. Every take-off is going to be stressfull - not worth it.

Rhino park - 4800 ft - the ELA's and Magni's with pax need about 600m if you want to clear 25 ft without pushing your limits.

Gravel runway is tough on a machine. Prop and rotor take serious knocks from gravel, especially when you have to push for short take-off. Go for the grass.

As far a legislation goes - what's that. This is not a runway. The sheep just seem to prefer the grass in this area.

P.S. Are you busy buying, training, flying ??

[James Bentley]

Having built my strip several years ago I can offer a little advise on the preparation of the ground and what grass to plant should you wish to go this route.
Make it as long as possible, there will always be somebody who wants to land bigger aircraft than what you may be planning for!! I have had some very fast planes attempting to land even though we have advised them not to, my strip is 700m long at 3420feet ASL and at times visitors have used the entire length to stop. If obstacles at either end are a problem then you are stuck with your 398m. I do not believe this is enough from a safety point of view although your own aircraft may be able to cope with this on a normal day with the conditions being right, a lot of the time the conditions are never perfect.
Grass is a great surface for all aircraft types, there are many advantages which outweigh all the negatives with regard to the maintenance that is required. Your wooly mowers may not be enough during periods of good rainfall, how do you plan to keep them off the field when you using it? Investing in a tractor with a slasher/mower is a worthwhile investment.
As far as the grass type to plant, I would not recommend kikuyu as it can be slippery compared to others and will grow faster during summer than you can mow it. I would advise planting "paspalum notatum" which is indigenous to RSA, is extremly tough once established and provides a really smooth surface. It is used on sports fields, horse racing tracks etc for these reasons. I will be pleased to assist further with the planting procedure and preparation of the ground should you decide to go the grass route.

Your windsock should be positioned at a point midway down the length and away from the strip by at least 20 to 30m in open ground. I would harass your local tyre supplier for one, Goodyear are very willing to give me a couple every year. Continental are also generous in this regard but be sure to ask for the aviation standard windsocks.

I am no expert field builder but I have acquired a lot of knowledge through making lots of mistakes, talk to as many people as you can who have done it before and good luck with your endevour.

I almost forgot the most important thing, get your neighbours on your side and consult them before you do anything.

James

Eva's Field

[old no 7]

Thanks for the sound advice so far guys.
Looks like I'll be negotiating with my mate for a longer patch of turf to plant grass on then.
It's not the PAX weight I'm worried about. It's my own. That's why I'm learning at 303 Squadron. Matthew and Joshua make up for my excessive kilo's
ZU-ONS is ready for delivery. Theuns and my bank manager just need a meeting of the minds. I should have it by next week. I'm so excited.

It's the first silver/grey MT-03 in the country.

[Low Level]

Great choice on gyro and instructors !!! I also trained with them.

Congrats. We're waiting for the pics.

[FO Gyro]

Hi. I fly a MT-03, and at an elevation of just under 4000 feet, 398m will be ok.

I weigh 80kg, and with a passenger that weighs about 70kg, I can be clear of obstacles by 250m, but you'll need full turbo for that. 398m will give you that extra margin, so it will be fine.

Very important is that you practice your take off technique at a longer strip with the loads that you intend taking off with, and then measuring the exact runway required for this.

At Kittyhawk (4 600 feet), I need 150m to lift off the ground (2 up), or 90m (1 up), and another 150m to accelerate to clear obstacles. I have measured this on Google Earth with the white centre line markings on the runway as a reference.

If you are much heavier than me, then the distances could be a quite a bit longer.

[old no 7]

Thanks Glen,
I will also be based at Kittyhawk after training, so hope to meet you soon.
The last time I saw 80kg was in grade II
I think I'm going to negotiate a longer strip with my mate on his farm just to be safe.
Once I'm more confident (or lighter) I'll move to the closer (shorter) strip.

See ya up there soon.