How to land on a grass airstrip

On Sat, 17 Jun 2006 18:34:42 GMT, Matt Whiting wrote:

drclive wrote:

Can anybody point out a good bibliography or article that describes the
differences in landing on a grass airstrip for the first time, tips and
advices? Thanks

What sort of differences? Landing on grass isn't much different than
hard surface unless the grass is very tall, very wet, or hiding mud. :-)

I'd have to disagree with you on this.

It also depends on the soil composition. If it's clay and dry and hard as
concrete, yes, no difference other then the grass that you describe above.

If it any other type of soil composition where the weight of the plane may
sink a little, then soft field take off and landing techniques are in order
(yoke full aft when on ground and prop is turning).

See my other postings on the technique.

Allen

A Lieberman wrote:

On Sat, 17 Jun 2006 18:34:42 GMT, Matt Whiting wrote:


drclive wrote:


Can anybody point out a good bibliography or article that describes the
differences in landing on a grass airstrip for the first time, tips and
advices? Thanks

What sort of differences? Landing on grass isn't much different than
hard surface unless the grass is very tall, very wet, or hiding mud. :-)


I'd have to disagree with you on this.

It also depends on the soil composition. If it's clay and dry and hard as
concrete, yes, no difference other then the grass that you describe above.

If it any other type of soil composition where the weight of the plane may
sink a little, then soft field take off and landing techniques are in order
(yoke full aft when on ground and prop is turning).

See my other postings on the technique.

Allen
See earlier message of mine on landing on grass, but one should always
know the soil of the intended grass runway and taxi with the yoke full
back. The 3000' field I mentioned is in perfect condition. But I have
been on some that are very rough. This field will drain quite nicely,
but there are soft spots that you need to know about. We had to push a
Warrior out of the soft spot one time. He was trying to taxi out with
full power and four adults in the plane. We got him to get the other
three out and with a little engine and pushing in the right spots he got
out.

--
Regards,

Ross
C-172F 180 hp
KSWI

Ross wrote:

A Lieberman wrote:

On Sat, 17 Jun 2006 18:34:42 GMT, Matt Whiting wrote:


drclive wrote:


Can anybody point out a good bibliography or article that describes the
differences in landing on a grass airstrip for the first time, tips and
advices? Thanks


What sort of differences? Landing on grass isn't much different than
hard surface unless the grass is very tall, very wet, or hiding mud.
:-)



I'd have to disagree with you on this.
It also depends on the soil composition. If it's clay and dry and
hard as
concrete, yes, no difference other then the grass that you describe
above.

If it any other type of soil composition where the weight of the plane
may
sink a little, then soft field take off and landing techniques are in
order
(yoke full aft when on ground and prop is turning).
See my other postings on the technique.

Allen

See earlier message of mine on landing on grass, but one should always
know the soil of the intended grass runway and taxi with the yoke full
back.

Even when taxiing back after landing into a 30K headwind?

Matt

On Sat, 17 Jun 2006 21:25:46 GMT, Matt Whiting wrote:

See earlier message of mine on landing on grass, but one should always
know the soil of the intended grass runway and taxi with the yoke full
back.

Even when taxiing back after landing into a 30K headwind?

30 knot head wind doesn't reduce the weight on the nose wheel on taxiing,
so yes, you still need yoke full aft, just less power,

Allen

On 17 Jun 2006 09:08:36 -0700, drclive wrote:

Can anybody point out a good bibliography or article that describes the
differences in landing on a grass airstrip for the first time, tips and
advices? Thanks

Check out http://www.firstflight.com/lessons/flt07.htm for lesson on soft
field landings.

Allen

drclive wrote:
Can anybody point out a good bibliography or article that describes the
differences in landing on a grass airstrip for the first time, tips and
advices? Thanks

Try google. I got plenty of hits with photos and techniques..

I should think a google search would give you plenty of reading
material! There is no great trick to landing on grass any differently
than on gravel, concrete, or asphalt! You will notice a difference in
stopping, a distinct difference on touchdown in the sounds and feeling,
and a little difference in taxi. All in all, no major differences and I
think too many people make a big to do about nothing. Kind of like
attitudes about flying tail draggers...?
I'd guess I've got 15-16,000 hours operating off grass/dirt/gravel or
unimproved strips in wide variety of aircraft including turbines, multi
engine, etc. really not a big deal.
Just make sure the condition of the strip is up to snuff and that can
be ascertained with a phone call. Practice your soft field techniques
and then go have some fun! I'm sure you will enjoy it. I certainly do.
Rocky
drclive wrote:
Can anybody point out a good bibliography or article that describes the
differences in landing on a grass airstrip for the first time, tips and
advices? Thanks

As with everything else connected with flying, "landing on grass" is best
not considered in one all encompassing definition for do's and don't's.
One of the worst habits a pilot can get into from the first day of training
is to begin thinking this way.
Landing on grass has all the variables associated with it that will be found
for any single location and set of conditions.
The best way to think about issues like this is to completely forsake the
"axiom" route and instead think in terms of SPECIFIC existing conditions for
the intended landing.
Dudley Henriques



"drclive" wrote in message
oups.com...
Can anybody point out a good bibliography or article that describes the
differences in landing on a grass airstrip for the first time, tips and
advices? Thanks

Drclive,

as others have said, it totally depends both on what the state of the
strip and the state of the grass is. Generally, use softfield
techniques (a good idea on any surface) as taught in primary training.
Very important: Add the additionals to distance calculations as given
in the POH.

Wet, high grass is more of a problem - I've had a Tobago decelerate
again during the take-off roll at 40 knots when I entered a patch of
higher gras (maybe 2 inches) after recent rain. I saw a sunburnt and
thus much short patch coming up ahead, so I didn't abort - and it
worked.


--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

On 17 Jun 2006 09:08:36 -0700, "drclive" wrote:

Can anybody point out a good bibliography or article that describes the
differences in landing on a grass airstrip for the first time, tips and
advices? Thanks

As has already been said, rent a CFI is a good place to start, but as
was also said, landing on a well cared for sod strip is little
different than landing at a regular airport.

However you do need to know the condition of the strip such as: Is it
smooth, It the grass cut short, and of course how long is the runway.
IE this is a good time to call ahead and find out the condition of the
strip before you discover it has ruts left from a truck after the last
rain.

If I were going into a sod strip for the first time it'd be a soft
field landing with the nose gear well in the air. If it's not rough
I'd not worry about the nose gear coming down. If it is rough I'd try
to taxi with enough power to keep the nose gear up. I say this with
the assumption you are flying either a Cessna, or Piper. OTOH a taxi
with enough power to keep the nose up requires a field with out loose
*stuff* on the runway or taxi way. Otherwise you can "whack" something
your prefer remained un whacked.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com