Artificial Turf Runway

Admittedly, I haven't read all the reports, but, last time I flew over, the
Academy already had paved runways. Is this a new landing field?


"Mike C" wrote in message
...
On Mar 24, 9:03 am, "kirk.stant" wrote:
On Friday, March 23, 2012 11:41:10 AM UTC-5, tomcatvf51 wrote:
US Air Force Academy has installed an artificial turf landing area for
glider ops.

The way I read it, it's a natural Turf runway, replacing the natural high
desert grass. That's totally different than an artificial turf runway!

So it's fundamentally the same as a football field. Sounds like a good
idea, since the natural grasses in that part of the world aren't the
softest. I would think the protection from rocks, etc would help the
maintenance load on the new DGs a lot. These gliders aren't just flown
once a week - they get used A LOT!

And probably a lot cheaper than a paved runway, which would have been the
Army's approach... ;^)

Go Falcons!

Kirk
66
USAFA '74

Grass is good!

The turf was installed in the grass area west of the paved glider launch
area. Same area that has been used for years for landing gliders.

John Scott
"Dan Marotta" wrote in message
...
Admittedly, I haven't read all the reports, but, last time I flew over,
the Academy already had paved runways. Is this a new landing field?


"Mike C" wrote in message
...
On Mar 24, 9:03 am, "kirk.stant" wrote:
On Friday, March 23, 2012 11:41:10 AM UTC-5, tomcatvf51 wrote:
US Air Force Academy has installed an artificial turf landing area for
glider ops.

The way I read it, it's a natural Turf runway, replacing the natural high
desert grass. That's totally different than an artificial turf runway!

So it's fundamentally the same as a football field. Sounds like a good
idea, since the natural grasses in that part of the world aren't the
softest. I would think the protection from rocks, etc would help the
maintenance load on the new DGs a lot. These gliders aren't just flown
once a week - they get used A LOT!

And probably a lot cheaper than a paved runway, which would have been the
Army's approach... ;^)

Go Falcons!

Kirk
66
USAFA '74

Grass is good!

Nope. It's artifical. It's the only thing that is green on the airfield
right now. Very very dry spring this year on the fonrt range.

John Scott

"kirk.stant" wrote in message
news:20170128.1560.1332601403747.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@ynne2...
On Friday, March 23, 2012 11:41:10 AM UTC-5, tomcatvf51 wrote:
US Air Force Academy has installed an artificial turf landing area for
glider ops.

The way I read it, it's a natural Turf runway, replacing the natural high
desert grass. That's totally different than an artificial turf runway!

So it's fundamentally the same as a football field. Sounds like a good
idea, since the natural grasses in that part of the world aren't the
softest. I would think the protection from rocks, etc would help the
maintenance load on the new DGs a lot. These gliders aren't just flown once
a week - they get used A LOT!

And probably a lot cheaper than a paved runway, which would have been the
Army's approach... ;^)

Go Falcons!

Kirk
66
USAFA '74