View Single Post
  #11  
Old March 12th 11, 01:56 AM posted to rec.aviation.owning
[email protected]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,130
Default Plane for Short Field, Grass Strip, Beginner?

On Mar 10, 10:27*am, Dave wrote:
OKaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.....

Check out the Cherokees...

Parts cheaper than Cessnas, and slipping with full flaps (no
restrictions) *will bring it down like a cinder block safely.

Find one with *Art Mattisons gap seals and VG's and the short runway
would be no issue.. *(or add them later... *easy.....)

We have these mods on our Warrior, and the low speed, takeoff/landing
performance is stunning.... *

Plus, two more seats and FAR more comfortable (and suitable) for cross
country flights..

Late 60's and early 70's *140's with a mid time engine/ light panels
should be on $$$ reach..

Good Luck!

Dave

*On Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:19:42 +0000, MBDiagMan

wrote:

Bug Dout;765065 Wrote:
MBDiagMan writes:
-
I am currently looking at a C140A with 100HP and a climb prop.-
Excellent. That should do the job on takeoff and climb out. I forget,
does that have flaps? Is some small amount of flaps recommended for
soft-field takeoff?


Check its ability to slip (for landing), as well as any restrictions on
slipping with flaps.


--
What is either a picture or a novel that is not character?
- Henry James


Thanks Bug, that is some great information to have and good questions
about the plane.


I do know that the C120's had no flaps while the C140 and C140A did. *I
have read that the 140 flaps are only marginally effective and the 140A
flaps are only slightly more effective than that.


Investigating it's slipping capabilities is something I had not thought
about, so thanks for pointing this out. *I will also investigate flap
usage for soft field take off.


I will be able to go fly it next week if we get the weather for it.


Thanks again,


Neither the Cessna 150 or the Cherokee 140 are known for their short-
field performance. We used to run a couple of 150s in the school, and
on warm days the 3000' paved runway, at 3000' altitude, was getting
marginal. Grass would be way worse; the drag of grass or stubble
mustn't be underestimated. I've seen the Cherokees eat a lot of
runway, too. The best bet for a cheaper airplane for this field would
be a Champ 7EC. We had a 7EC that had been converted from the 90 hp to
100, and it outran those Cessna 150s every which way. The later
American Champion airplanes are much heavier and have less useful load
and use a LOT more runway than the old Champs.

Shoot, even an Ercoupe can make a 150 look sick. I flew a 90-hp Alon
Aircoupe, the last iteration of the Ercoupe series, and it took off
shorter, climbed faster, and cruised faster than the 150s. I have no
idea what the 150 is doing with its 100 hp.

Dan