Thread: Short Field / Soft Field Takeoff Procedures

I'd like to see some of your real-world procedures and numbers.

At last something I know about...
I fly out of a grass strip, 300m most days, 330m or 250m E / W depending on the wind..
Take of solo even with full tanks can be done with a little wind in 180-200m, 15 degree of flap. Full with baggage, 2 people 120 litres
nil wind needs 30 degree flap.
Landing can be done easily into 300m & 250 if you have 15 knot or more on the nose, a better pilot than me can land in 150m in still air!
Why do you need to know?
Mal

Have you tried such a takeoff at full load at 35C temperature?

35 in the UK.... have you seen our rainfall this summer..?
Highest so far is about 22 degrees with no wind, 2 up full of fuel & I used 30 degree. A bit slow but made it without scaring me.
I doubt I will ever fly in the UK at 35c degree... it just doesn't get that hot! I am off to France in August & it may just get to low 30c but I won't have to worry about a 300m strip.... for reference we are also quite low at only 340ft above sea level.
Mal

No wonder they call the 'ol dart' the misty mudbank Mal...we are saving plenty of blue sky and sunshine here in Oz for when you visit later this year!

Regards

Dave

Hi Scott,

I have taken off with 95-98F and been heavier than 1320lbs. It does just fine. It is a little slower climb, but does just fine.

24c today, 80-90 litres of fuel, 2 x 100kg pilots, nil wind.... no problems...
Tried 30 degree & then settled on 15 for take off, 800ft pm climb out at 55knot.
Dave ... I will discuss the weather in October.... but don't rub it in...and you have 600kg MAUW & 120knot .... Grrrr.
Mal

Roger
This is Doug and I'm still in the waiting mode to receive my bird....however, in the meantime I'm wondering what you and our other experienced members can offer regarding stoutness of that spindly landing gear and the SW in general for a steady diet of turf/sod and other than concrete runway operations.

Our 2006 CTsw was based at a turf field for a few years, and I always felt it was easier on the plane overall than paved runways would have been. Our only problem was having to wait 2-3 days to fly after a few days of rain. My experience has been that the 2006 CTsw and newer has a "plenty strong" landing gear. Especially in the early days, we bounced it around pretty hard.

Doug, forgot what type of gear you said your plane has during our phone conversation - tundra or standard? Regardless, you will be happy with the strength of your 2006's landing gear. For grass fields, I try to keep the front gear off the ground as much as possible. There is the old "rule of thumb" that one should only use the front for steering during taxiing but this is mostly true for all light aircraft. Keep the stick back during all taxi (except, of course for trailing high wind conditions). During take offs, I try to keep the load off the front gear by keeping the stick back and letting the front become light or even rise a bit off the turf as quickly as possible. During landings, use the mains and keep flying the plane all thru the roll out and play with the pitch to keep the front off the turf as long as possible. The main gear legs are large diameter, solid aluminum bars and these are tough and substantial. I have been told that these legs can be bent from extremely hard, sidewise drops to the runway but I imagine that most, if not all LSA will show adverse affects if this happens.

You will soon have delivery of your plane. After a few hours of flying and a good number of landings, I believe that you will be pleased with the strength of your main gear and pleased with the amount of control you will have to keep the gear unloaded on rough fields.