Which runway location?

[dewhitaker]

Re: Which runway location?

I liked Robs comment, "which way is the prevailing wind?" Might be nice to buy a windsock and put it up now to get a better idea. The longer runway would be the safer runway and most usable, IMHO.

It is a fact of life that sometimes engines quit on take - off, and the extra length and better approaches might pay big dividends should the fan on the front quit turning. I have helped retrieve more than one airplane and Dad has also plucked some out of the trees. Please be safe!

[Len Petterson]

Re: Which runway location?

1 .Check the prewailing wind.
2. I build north south so I have a runway, just make shure you have clean gas, good mags and open fuel valves.
don't "wana be in the tree tops".
Ask nicely if you may cut some of threes, just to make" LITTLE" hole!
For the east west, I find a friendly contractor with a suitable grader,bulldozer and Piper Cub or similar what needs a runway.
Len Petterson

[crispy critter]

Re: Which runway location?

Eric,
Either looks good to me. I would go with the easy pick for the time being and if you ever have a problem then you still have plan "B" to fall back on.
If your worried about the length, just come on up to my place and I'll take ya to a few little fields we like to play in. They ain't nothing like Jason's 300 footer but they are fun.

[Sloanlow]

Re: Which runway location?

I voted east west but really from the looks of the layout you could make both, right away, by building the north south, then the east west stopping short of the stock tank (Texas for POND) then you could actually just order in some good fill and fill in the edge of the stock tank at your convenience and forget about trying to move the stock tank.

for the time being just improve a little taxi way so that you can use it. If for some reason you found yourself not being able to land on one or the other, just park it somewhere and have someone come and get you.

Hell just smooth it out and start flying on it, plant some grass that is tolerant of your area, lay some tires at 2,4,6,8oo feet and paint them white, you can probably find them on the roof of some old mobile home around there. Put up a sign that says "if you ain't landed yet go around" or "go some place else" or "no king airs or queen airs" just for fun, you could drag up a old screwed up supercub and put it in the stock tank, paint it up real good, put "cub crafters" on the tail, just the tail sticking out of the water........hell I'm busting up already thinking about it. hell have the courage to put in an AWOS and a big wind sock. you could have a little handheld and call out the pressure on "uni com." Put in a sodi pop machine.....and sell peanut butter crackers. Later you could put in DUATS.....Man you are livin the life over there......I'm just kidding..........you'd be fueling jets before long though........and...........

At Marfa we have 21-03 and 30-12. These are great for almost anything we do around here. The active is almost always 12. But the winds come up every once and awhile leaving some of us up in the air with a very strong x-wind. But, that's OK, because we have 26 and 08. Having 260 is really great because, if you need to use it you will only roll about 100 feet after touching down. There is almost no wind condition that we can't land safely here.

Jim

[Sloanlow]

Re: Which runway location?

Richard is already building you a VASI.

Jim

[crispy critter]

Re: Which runway location?

Somebody needs to get him some building permitts for the control tower....Eric, do ya think Kim would let ya build a pilots lounge in the den??

[Acroeric]

Re: Which runway location?

Actually- I have a great spot on the west hill for a cabin- It overlooks the river bottom and is very private. When you guys fly in you could have a place to stay- no electric though- just oil lanterns, a porch, and a wood stove.

All this talk about VASI's and Towers has me scared- I do not want anyone knowing it is a runway- just a narrow pasture through the woods!

[Dano"T"]

Re: Which runway location?

I have a cow patsure too! Occaionally an airplane lands there and the cow barn has 40' wide doors that just happen to fit a cub, 2 T-Crafts, a boat....well, you get it. See It Here This image was taken before I built the new barn...oh well, you can see my North South runway and house anyway. The grass wasn't even all the way filled in in the middle of the runway.

[Yellow Duck]

Re: Which runway location?

Let me put in my 2 cent in.

I have 1700 ft, 120/300 and winds are mostly out of the south. Large trees at both ends. In winter time, it is just ok, not much choices if engine quits or misses rmuch. Most of the times brakes are required after landing. But you can get in and out with two (not too large).

In the summer, it is a single place aircraft.

I have a friend about 4 miles from me with a 1200 ft N/S and it is a single place operation most times.

Now you must understand I am in South Louisiana, and until Feb. it is still mostly warm here. Yesterday was in the low 80's. But it is getting cold tomorrow. Due to be in the high 50's.

I keep looking for another piece of land for my strip. 2000ft with no obstruction is just perfect.

[high time cub]

Re: Which runway location?

Eric, If you plan on being there for a long time, go with the east/west and start the approval process (FAA,County,etc) now. Get your Ducks in a row before you have a surly neighbor problem.