Grass Strips

[mtw]

Most all of my time so far in the Chief has been on pavement. I hope to be moving to a grass strip in the near future. How does the Chief handle grass strips that are not quite perfect, ie few dips, humps, bumps etc...? Seems like the oleo suspension should do well unless it gives too much travel. Just wanted to get some input from some that fly off grass on a regular basis.

Thanks,

Todd Wilemon
Aberdeen, MS

[SFC Hiatt]

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) you will never want to land on pavement again even if that means landing on the grass next to the pavement at any airport. And if the wind is blowing sideways you will want to land on any grass you can find.

Get real lucky and you might find a current golf course that use to be an airport

They make the best grass runways.....almost like landing in the air.



MAKE SURE you avoid the pot holes, animals, golfers, trees, extreamly high grass, ect, ect. But other than that just land and enjoy the feeling you will feel upon landing on grass. It will feel like your best landing ever even though your skill haven't changed.

[mtw]

Thanks for the info and great photos!

Todd

[MikeB]

Love the grass. That's what these birds were made for.

MikeB

[joea]

Agree with the others. While at Middletown this past June I did not land on pavement one time.

Try it, you will really like it!

[Rick Hadley]

+1. I can't imagine anyone with a taildragger not preferring grass to hard surface. I'm trying to get a grant for an "extended safety area", parallel to our N-S asphalt runway.

[mtw]

Appreciate the input guys, but going back to my original question, how does the Chief handle the imperfections found in many grass strips?

Thanks,

Todd

[flyingfool]

No problem.

Like stated above, these planes were literally made for unimproved grass strips. Way back in the 1940's they did not have manicured paved surfaces as most airports were relatively unimproved areas or graded smooth areas at best.

The oleo gear is much better in my opinion than the spring gear on a C-140. Not that the 140's are bad, just different. And I also like the oleo gear better than bungee cords like a Cub has. But all this could simply be my biased Aeronca owner opinion.

Another advantage of landing on grass is that your tires basically never wear out. They get old and weather checked but don't wear out. You also don't need to use brakes as much either.

[mtw]

Thanks for the info!

Todd

[Captgrumps]

The closest thing they had to paved strips when these thing were build were gravel, crushed stone/oil, macadam (blacktop). Only the Big Big airports had pavement and if a tower it was usually 278kc.
These airplanes were born and bred to fly out of grandma's backyard. Paved runways, radio's and contnrol towers are a pox to Aeronca flying as it should be. But then if you never knew you don't know what you missed. Just an OF's two cents.


Doug

[Dan1940Chief]

Appreciate the input guys, but going back to my original question, how does the Chief handle the imperfections found in many grass strips?

Thanks,

Todd

I have a 1940 Chief and it absolutely loves grass.

I've had to fly on pavement from time to time -- I'd rather not.

[Captgrumps]

They love grass strips and you will too. Concrete = potential ground loop.. If the strip you speak of is rough just let some air out of the tires--those oleos are made for that as long as the springs are in good shape, you have oil in the strut and they are greased. Your mechanic should know all that. If not find one that does.

Doug

[mtw]

Thanks for the input guys.

Todd