Gravel Bar

[jgerard]

My buddy Marc and I went out and hit a few "bars" this weekend. Follow the link to check out some of the pictures he took.

http://gallery.taylorcraft.org/N43643?page=2

Jason
n43643

[matsuthunder200]

Re: Gravel Bar

like the pic's cant wait untill summer ice and snow here now....

[Victor Gisclair]

Re: Gravel Bar

Jason I would think twice before landing there. I stick to my wet lands in good old Louisiana. Pictures look great.

[Jim Hartley]

Re: Gravel Bar

Hi Jason! Thank you for the pictures,they look similar to areas that I have been in and out of. I use 8.50's and I am careful about frequenting areas that you have shown. I think it is hard on the machinery and a steady diet of it is detrimental. Your friends airplane is better suited for these operations,in my opinion. A good test of limits though!? Any one else care to share their thoughts?

Jim

[jgerard]

Re: Gravel Bar

Those are the biggest rocks I would ever try to operate on. That trip was a test, I now have something to mesure against for operating on gravel bars. We have plenty of bars around here with the smaller 2-3" rocks + sand. I figure if I can't push it on the ground the rocks are too big!! The portion of the bar used for TO/LNDG is much smoother. As always I appreciate the input from all the members here.

Jason
N43643

PS - What PSI do you use in your 8.50's Jim Hartley?

[jgerard]

Re: Gravel Bar

I keep the tail up as long as possible, and Yes! it is kinda bumpy on the 4-6" rocks. A good preflight is done prior to departure everytime. Flying off gravel bars is not for everyone, knowledge - skill - judgement!!! If any one of those is lacking the potential for mistakes rises greatly. The aircraft must also be properly equiped and in good condition. Always take 2 planes incase one has a problem.

Jason
N43643

[Brady]

jealous

Jason,

Great pictures...I'm jealous. Looks like you guys had a blast.

Northwestern Lousiana (where I'm at) has to be one of the worst places in the country for trying to land off-airport. We've got 80' tall pine trees or swamp...take your pick. There is some farm land around the Red River, but it's all private property.

The guy I bought my F-19 from used to fly it to Alaska every summer and he made some cool videos, shot from the plane, of himself taking off and landing on gravel bars up there. He did break the tail-wheel off once. The plane still has a little crinkle in the bottom of the rudder to prove it. What would worry me isn't so much the tail-wheel or the main gear (stuff that can be fixed), but possible fatigue where the wing struts attach to the fuselage. If that subsquently gives way in flight...you're pretty much screwed. I don't know if there's any known cases (on any type plane) where repeated gravel bar landings (or any type of jointing) cracked the strut attach points. (It think Forrest Barber described an incident where a T-craft on floats had an attach point give way a long time ago). I would think that the bigger and softer the tires, the less you'd have to worry.


Brady

[Jim Hartley]

Re: Gravel Bar

PS - What PSI do you use in your 8.50's Jim Hartley?[/QUOTE]

I do not know if the gauges are correct or not Jason,but the way I do it is to inflate to just fill them out and then I stand on them and bounce up and down with my body weight.I try to feel just a little give or compression. the thumb test as well...just a little give... Generic tire gauges show about 10 to 15 pounds. Seems to work well for me.

Jim