Nosewheel vs. Tailwheel on rough terrain

[Finley Atherton]

If the surface will always be rough then tail wheel may be best. However if you own this field then presumably you would be able to maintain it in a condition that would be OK for a nose wheel RV? My airstrip originally had some very rough patches, but I replanted the grass and rolled it and the surface is now very acceptable for a nose wheel.

Fin
9A

[eric_marsh]

Originally Posted by Finley Atherton

If the surface will always be rough then tail wheel may be best. However if you own this field then presumably you would be able to maintain it in a condition that would be OK for a nose wheel RV? My airstrip originally had some very rough patches, but I replanted the grass and rolled it and the surface is now very acceptable for a nose wheel.

Fin
9A

I'm studying that question right now. The field is red clay - it might be tough to get some grasses to grow. What concerns me more is that I have a variation in elevation of perhaps two to three feet in the area where I would want to put a strip. But on the plus side where I would want to put a runway is close to due north and we have mostly northern winds. From fence to fence I have somewhere around 3000 feet. I imagine that ought to be enough for an RV.

I guess that the subject of what's required for a safe runway is something else that I need to study when I have time. I expect it to take a couple years to put my RV together so there's no rush.

My local airport is only about eight miles from home so it's not a problem to get there. It's just more convenient to be able to work at home. Saves hanger fees too. I've already got an old slab up there that I could put a metal building on and there's a telephone pole with electricity running to it - all I need is to put in a meter.

Besides, what can be more cool than having my own airstrip?

[Finley Atherton]

3.000 ft would be pure luxury. Mine is 1,400 ft at 4,300 ft altitude. A 2 to 3 ft variation would not be a problem unless you mean fairly abrupt 2 to 3 ft undulations in which case you may need to get it graded even for a tailwheel?

Fin
9A

[eric_marsh]

No, the 2-3 foot (probably closer two 2) variations are over a thousand feet or so. From the south fence it dips down just a little bit for perhaps three hundred feet and then there is a gentle rise as you head north. It's pretty level from about 500 feet south of the north fence to the fence itself.

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by L.Adamson

However, it's a fact, that with a tailwheel RV.............there may be objects in the path, that you may miss..............and clobber enough to do extensive damage. This has been proven by a "well known" forum member.......

Being that "well known" forum member, I would go with the taildragger again without hesitation.

My incident, was caused by a low slung trailer left in the middle of a narrow taxiway, lined with tall poles (no S-turning), on the back side of a hill, at a large local fly-in. While a nosewheel might have helped, I watched a Cessna almost taxi into the same trailer after we moved my plane. Thus, having the little wheel up front might have helped but it was still possible to hit that trailer. Call it a tie.

The wheels on an RV aren't really made for rough fields. However, you can have custom gear legs made so you can mount large wheels and tires.

It comes down to what you really want. Build that airplane and don't look back.