Look at this CARPETED field

[sihinch]

Thanks Andy, I look forward to reading the reply.

Lets try to keep moving this discussion forward in a positive direction so that all TEMAC members may benefit from field improvements!

Ok, in the spirit of keeping this positive - anyone know any landscapers, golf club grounds-people, or anyone that deals with ground work, who we could ask for input/advice?

[flying saucer]

Thanks Andy, I look forward to reading the reply.

Lets try to keep moving this discussion forward in a positive direction so that all TEMAC members may benefit from field improvements!

Ok, in the spirit of keeping this positive - anyone know any landscapers, golf club grounds-people, or anyone that deals with ground work, who we could ask for input/advice?

Peter golfs just about everyday down the road from TEMAC, don't think he ever checks this forum, but I will definitely ask him next time I see him.

[flying saucer]

I've seen the reply.

Andy will likely share it soon.

One thing that stood out to me in the response, I share with you now:

"I'll tell you Andy - it is better than dirt or asphalt, but not as good as grass."

hmmm interesting, but wouldn't asphalt be considered the very best? (belly landers would still need a grass partition) I mean that's what's used at real airports.

[Ededge2002]

Ever land on asphalt?  Its not as nice as you would think. 

[flying saucer]

Care to elaborate?

Not that its an option for us, just thought it would be considered number one for takeoff/landing.

[bfeist]

No way. Asphalt requires planes with brakes, which is probably a good idea for $25k turbines but is brutal for anything else. The York Electric Flight Expo (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=267868) was at an airport with a real runway. Landing on it was a recipe for disaster, almost everyone opted to land on the grass next to the asphalt.

Grass is the #1 choice for sure. I agree that there are fields that are smoother than the TEMAC field but those clubs own the land and have been caring for their land for much longer than TEMAC has been open. The TEMAC field gets better every year. If you've been a member long enough to remember the first year of the runway extension you'll notice how much better it is now after just regular mowing. The field will continue to get better, it's already perfectly fine.

Lest anyone has developed Princess and the Pea syndrome, here's some video I shot back in 2005 at TEMAC (first year of operation). Note the field conditions (you could still see furrows in the pit area), and note our ability to have fun anyway.
TEMAC circa 2005

[Ededge2002]

Positives of paved runways:

Makes taking off easy and can use tiny wheels. Also if you do have a hard landing and your plane explodes as it impacts the hard surface you can use a leaf blower to clean it up!

Negatives of paved runways:

NO give. Every time a prop even bumps the surface it's scrap. Winds can make even sitting on the runway tough unless you have brakes. A hot landing isn't a landing it's a touch and go! Longer runway required to bleed speed.  Bounces measure in feet not inches and the tiny wheels won't help you. Folding gear and scraping along can remove a LOT of airplane. Need more?

[flying saucer]

Positives of paved runways:

Makes taking off easy and can use tiny wheels. Also if you do have a hard landing and your plane explodes as it impacts the hard surface you can use a leaf blower to clean it up!

Negatives of paved runways:

NO give. Every time a prop even bumps the surface it's scrap. Winds can make even sitting on the runway tough unless you have brakes. A hot landing isn't a landing it's a touch and go! Longer runway required to bleed speed.  Bounces measure in feet not inches and the tiny wheels won't help you. Folding gear and scraping along can remove a LOT of airplane. Need more?

Ok thanks for the insight, next time I fly off a paved runway, I'll try to keep it in mind 

[Andy Hoffer]

Hi Folks:

Here is the very informative reply I received from Jeff Whitney, Past President and Board Member of the Southern Alameda County Radio Controllers, Radio Control Aircraft Club, (Newark / Fremont / Union City, California - www.sacrc.org) in response to my inquiry about their field covering.  Many thanks to Ken Ross and Ben Feist for pointing us to the video clip which identified this club for us.  This definitely helps to inform our discussion on this topic.

Enjoy!

Andy Hoffer
Secretary-Treasurer, TEMAC
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Jeff Whitney
To: Andy Hoffer
Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2012 1:26 AM
Subject: Re: Southern Alameda County Radio Controllers - Field Covering


Hi Andy - thanks for the inquiry.  The covering is Astro-Turf,  We got very lucky several - many - years ago when UC Berkeley decided to recover their football field,  They gave us several rolls of the stuff - we just had to pay for the transportation.   Laying it down was labor intensive, it took all the members several weekends to lay it out, seam it and nail it down.

Then a few years later a local high school also recovered their football field.  We were fortunate that one of our members was associated with the school and again, all we had to do was pay the transportation costs.  We had so much we sold quite a bit to two other clubs in the area.

I'll tell you Andy - it is better than dirt or asphalt, but not as good as grass.  You can belly-land on it without tearing the airplane up too badly.  We have had a couple of full-size do touch and goes on it - very irritating as it tends to  bunch the astro-turf up a bit, very irritating.

When we lost that field we had to roll up the astro turf - that was quite a chore as we had laid it out directly on the dirt and weeds had grown thru it making it tough to roll up - and the dirt that had accumulated on it made it a lot heavier!

The new field originally had geo-lon - roadbed prep fabric but the members wanted the astro turf back so there we are!

I think the cost of new astro turf would be prohibitive for your club, but you may get lucky like we did and find a field that is going to be recovered.  Won't hurt to ask around.

I know several clubs that use the geo-lon fabric and it works quite well for them - see if you can get in touch with Dan Gellner at the Yankee Air Pirates near Klamath Falls, Oregon, or Ken Busse at East Bay Radio Controllers (EBRC) in Livermore, CA (not sure who is President out there now).

Good luck - please let me know how your search goes and what you wind up with.

Jeff

[flying saucer]

Thanks again Andy.

Good info.