Are there any special procedures or 'tips' you guys/gals may have for flying a light twin from a gravel strip safely? What are the major factors to watch for? ie; power use and damage to prop tips and fuselage from stones, braking action and back tracking.
Any advice for a first timer would help greatly,
G
Operations on gravel strips
Moderators: sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, lilfssister, North Shore, I WAS Birddog
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stubble jumper
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- Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2004 7:10 am
On landing dont go for the smooth "show off" type .... get it down and get some good wheel spin to avoid, as much as possible, tyre cuts.
Take advantage of a slight down grade while parked so you dont need as much power to begin rolling.
Mag check and prop gov check while backtracking .... be careful.
Once rolling ... it is as normal as can be.
Nothing to lose sleep over.
You get high marks for a wanting info .... a real pro asks for input.
Take advantage of a slight down grade while parked so you dont need as much power to begin rolling.
Mag check and prop gov check while backtracking .... be careful.
Once rolling ... it is as normal as can be.
Nothing to lose sleep over.
You get high marks for a wanting info .... a real pro asks for input.
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shitdisturber
- Rank 10
- Posts: 2165
- Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2004 3:38 pm
- Location: If it's Monday it's got to be somewhere shitty
Power usage is important on gravel strips as you've already alluded to; make sure you get the airplane rolling before you feed in full power, you'll prevent a lot of damage to the props that way. There's no way you can avoid damage on a gravel strip, but you can minimize it if you're careful.
Gravel Strips, always park into wind (any strip actually), after back-tracking, if a x-wind make your turn into wind also. Always sweep under props prior to start; if strip is soft keep turns to a minimum; keep a/c rolling, don't stop prior to take-off.
If she floats, give er!
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just curious
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As you taxi clear of the runway, ensure that your gyros are properly aligned. Make note of you heading so that you can reset your gyros after start, permitting you to:
Do all your checks prior to moving so that you can taxi and take off without a pause at the end. A full run-up on gravel, just so you know will be very expensive (Buying those new prop blades and all
)
Make your radio call for position prior to moving. When you do, use only the minimum power to start you moving.
On landing back in the big city, go to the nearest pilot shop to buy a bush pilot baseball hat, since you now know one of our carefully hidden secrets.
Do all your checks prior to moving so that you can taxi and take off without a pause at the end. A full run-up on gravel, just so you know will be very expensive (Buying those new prop blades and all
)Make your radio call for position prior to moving. When you do, use only the minimum power to start you moving.
On landing back in the big city, go to the nearest pilot shop to buy a bush pilot baseball hat, since you now know one of our carefully hidden secrets.
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Jungle Jim
- Rank 6
- Posts: 436
- Joined: Wed May 26, 2004 6:29 pm
