shortest safe runways in real world

by Chris Skudder

Aug 26

I've got a meadow in which I can carve out a runway or 2 which could be around 600-800 feet of grass. I may be able to get clear arrival and departure corridors, or may be stuck with 20-40 foot trees at either end; or possibly use close-in turns before touchdown or after liftoff to avoid them.

I have 2,300 hrs in Piper Cherokees and a Navajo. I flew the PA-28 and PA-32 in + out of a lot of grass strips, altho much longer like 1,600 ft and up.

The marketing material and specifications for the 701 and STOL 750 have TO and landing distances in the range of 50 - 150 ft. It makes me wonder if there's an aircraft-engine-prop combination which could safely navigate a 600-800' runway.  I realize the specs are ideal conditions: paved surface, perhaps competition weight, etc. So I'm hoping people might share what they're really doing with these aircraft day in and day out. Is there a 701 or 750, engine, and prop combination that could work with this patch of land?

What's the shortest runway that people are routinely operating these aircraft from?

What engine + prop do you have?

(I'm expecting to invest in more horsepower + a flight-adjustable or variable pitch prop)

What does real-world ground run and lift-off speed look like?

What's real-world initial best angle of climb - airspeed, vertical speed?

What's the aircraft weight at which you are operating on these short strips?

I'm in Ohio at 1,300 ft MSL. Summers can be in the 90's but I don't need it to be safe on the hottest days. I'm about 180 lbs. I'd like to be able to take my wife along at 125 lbs some days, and maybe enuf fuel for a couple hours. I'd prefer to run on mogas; looking at the Viking 175 or bigger Rotax as possible engine options, but open to anything that makes it work and makes it safe.

I'd sure appreciate real-world, real pilot input on whether these planes are a real option with my land. Other options might be an ultralight or a helicopter like R-22. But the 701 and 750 have obvious cabin and cruise advantages over UL's and choppers.

Many thanks in advance,

Chris

  • up

    P. Richards

    Can you determine "typical" wind direction and speed for your property?

    Anyone can easily get a 701 or 750 in and out of 300 feet at gross weight with a 30mph headwind, but those numbers go out the window as the wind drops or density altitude goes up.

    I routinely get a 701 on amphibs out of small lakes at near gross weight ;-) with no problems. Takeoff run is 10-12 seconds and uses less than 1000ft.

    On a runway with wheels it is less than half of that.

    Here is a 6 second 400 ft roll to take off and climb out at VX on a 90 degree day.

    CH701 with 100hp Rotax. (probably 150lbs under gross)

    https://zenith.aero/video/vx-takeoff-from-greenfield-ns

    3

    Aug 27

    • up

      Matt Pope

      Here's Jon Humberd's one-way-in, one-way-out 360' strip where he flies his Rotax 912 ULS powered 701 (and previously his UL Power UL350iS powered "Super 701"). (See the comment under the photo, screenshotted from Facebook.)

      5

      Aug 28

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      • up

        Rob Lankford

        I have similar objectives with my yard and my 801 project. I have 600' between fences. With some dozer work I could make it 800'. Prevailing winds are from the north, and the runway is oriented nw-se, so an upwind takeoff to the north is facing a large hill. Once the 801 is up and flying, I'll have to simulate takeoff and landings with these conditions at a proper airport nearby before I try my backyard strip.
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        on Saturday