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  #1  
Old 01-02-2013, 06:47 PM
steve91t steve91t is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Huntersville, NC
Posts: 138
Default Landing on grass....

Hey guys. I've been flying my dad's 7 and I want to take it into a 4000' long, 100' wide grass strip that I'm very familiar with...as in I know where the bumps are and aren't.

It's a very well taken care of glider airport. No soft spots or anything. I know a lot of you fly out of grass, I just wanted to know what to be careful of with plane with wheel pants.

I tow gliders often flying one of their 3 Pawnees and I'd like to fly the 7 to "work" one of these days.
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  #2  
Old 01-02-2013, 06:52 PM
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Greg Arehart Greg Arehart is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Delta, CO/Atlin, BC
Posts: 2,391
Default

Steve,

My opinion is this should not be an issue (having the pants on) unless you hit some really big holes.

Greg
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RV-9B (Big tires) Tipup @AJZ or CYSQ
N 7965A
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  #3  
Old 01-02-2013, 06:59 PM
Geeman Geeman is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Novato, CA KDVO
Posts: 377
Default Grass

My home base is grass. I have about 1 1/2" clearance on back of wheel pants. No issues.
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Kyle Gee
Purchased and sold flying RV-6
RV-7 Kit (sold to purchase C150 to train my kids)
Purchased flying RV-7
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  #4  
Old 01-02-2013, 09:55 PM
Frank Smidler Frank Smidler is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Stoughton, WI
Posts: 473
Default Wheel Fairings + Grass = No Problem

I fly an RV-6 with very low wheel fairings out of a grass strip in WI and have visited many other grass strips with no problem.
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Frank Smidler
N96FS, RV-6
Flying 1/11/09
1085 hr
2WI6 Stoughton, WI
Formally of Lafayette, IN
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  #5  
Old 01-03-2013, 01:06 AM
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Andy Hill Andy Hill is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 976
Default

We have a higher % of grass strips in the UK than the US. Most, but by no means all, RVs opt for the 380 tyres to increase the spat ground clearance, and also provide a bigger tyre area v soft surface (less "sinking in"). I suspect the hazards are as much surface transitions / steps as using the strip.

If significant bumps / steps / soft the other aspect worth upgrading is the Vans tailfork to a Bell or similar, again for clearance.

At worst, you will hone your fibreglass skills repairing the spats
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RV-8 G-HILZ
RV-3B G-HILI very slow build
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  #6  
Old 01-03-2013, 04:47 AM
humptybump humptybump is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 3,179
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I fly off a firm turf runway (not anywhere near as long as 4000') and have very low wheel pants. The grass is mowed to 2.5". No problems. The other RV's that have visited ('A' models included) have no issues.

Knowing the quality of the turf is key. If you know the field already, you should have much greater confidence.

Oh, yeah. What Keith says next - bugs, bugs, bugs.

Last edited by humptybump : 01-03-2013 at 07:45 AM.
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  #7  
Old 01-03-2013, 07:42 AM
pa38112 pa38112 is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Clarksboro, NJ
Posts: 829
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I fly a 6A with wheel pants out of grass with no problems (5.00 X 5). I do pick up lots of bug splatter on the wings, prop and pants. - Just clean it before it hardens.
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  #8  
Old 01-03-2013, 10:04 AM
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flyenforfun flyenforfun is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Wilmington DE
Posts: 323
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pa38112 View Post
I fly a 6A with wheel pants out of grass with no problems (5.00 X 5). I do pick up lots of bug splatter on the wings, prop and pants. - Just clean it before it hardens.
I have only been flying my plane since June, but have landed on quite a few different grass strips with no problems. The under sides of my wheel pants aren't the prettiest anymore though.
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RV-8 - N861MM
Wilmington, DE
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  #9  
Old 01-03-2013, 10:15 AM
JDRhodes JDRhodes is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Taylorsville, GA
Posts: 748
Default Taxi slow

We base on grass and fly 100 hours per year or so. The farings and pants move around a lot as the gear flexes on smooth (but rougher-than-pavement) grass. We occasionally have seen cracks in the glass around screw holes, etc. This is with constant use, over time. Occasional landings shouldn't be any problem.
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RV-9, 7 - going fast
BC-12D - going slow
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