When I was working at a local airpark for a kit manufacturer until last year, I would fly to work every chance I could get. That strip sits right at 4960' MSL. I landed with a comfortable speed each time because the paved runway was so narrow and I wanted to concentrate on keeping there. If I hit the brakes hard, I could make the turn at mid field. I could have landed slower, but I wouldn't recommend it for a green pilot.
When I delivered the green/white Tornado 2 we rebuilt a few years ago to its new home in Texas, the strip had power lines immediately at both ends of the 1600' grass runway, which didn't leave much go get stopped. I used full flaps on the wet grass while fast approaching a wood fence and tree directly ahead. I was able to get it stopped just less than 100' from the fence. With two people on my second landing there, we stopped in the same distance after getting the first one down, but that meant clearing the wires by 10-15 feet.
--Kimberly
----- Original Message -----
From: skyking13
To: Titanaircraft@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, September 04, 2009 11:12 AM
Subject: [Titanaircraft] Landing distance required
As a sea level flier (Home field only 671MSL) I'm usually able to enjoy take off and landing distances of well under 1,000 feet on a hard surface runway.
I recently assisted a new Tornado owner in moving his new aircraft to Montana where he is, for the time being, operating off a hard surfaced runway of more than 6,000 feet. He is a pilot, without however any recent experience and no experience in a light sport type of aircraft. He was used to flying larger GA aircraft and his most recent experience is in a Pilatus PC-12, an experience that doesn't transfer well to the Tornado.
I have been assisting him with some dual and he has shown progress in his aircraft handling skills through about 8 hours of dual. He'll still need some time in doing touch and go's to become consistently proficient in landings before I'll feel comfortable about turning him loose.
My question is this...He's planning (and has broken ground) on a 1,000 grass runway on his property in Montana. The location is at 6,000 feet above sea level and although this field length is enough for operations at sea level I'm somewhat doubtful that it provides sufficient runway for safe operations at that mountainous altitude. The runway has trees at one end and a river and less hospitable terrain at the other end. Do any group members have experience with measuring takeoff and landing distances at this altitude?
I may of course do my own measurements from operations on the hard surfaced runway where he is currently operating and extrapolate the greater distance that the grass strip would require for safe operation.
And as an aside on the hitting the tailwheel on landing. Depending on the airspeed, flap setting, and effort the pilot is putting into the flare, the tailwheel may or may not touch the runway. I've found that during maximum effort landings in the IISS...that is, looking to hit a line at the minimum possible airspeed, I'll roll my tailwheel on the runway before the mains. I've got the sight picture down pat from my hours flying the Tornado but depending on the PILOT'S ability to manage the flare the tailwheel is still there to PROTECT the tailboom.
Blue Skies,
Robert "Captain Bob" Perry
Titan Tornado IISS 899HC
Buellton, CA
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Titanaircraft/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Titanaircraft/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:Titanaircraft-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:Titanaircraft-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
Titanaircraft-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
No comments:
Post a Comment