Runway Improvement Completed!

[David-aviator]

Well, here it is, the finished product.

We officially opened the runway last Friday, 23 days after the project began.
On Saturday no less than 5 different airplanes had a go at the new operation off of asphalt, including a first flight by Bob Talir in his new Flightstar.

Everyone is pleased with end result, even the die hard grass pilots. We went to great effort to redo the grass area and although it will take the better part of a year to get it operational, it is much improved in terms of grade and area. Much dirt was moved here and there to get it right, especially drainage. Our most pressing challenge is to get grass growing before erosion sets in. To that end, we are considering an immediate planting of wheat to get things started.

The hard surface is very smooth from one end to the other, something that did not exist before. The grade is such, you can coast your bike to the west without pedaling, but the return is not much work, one hardly notices it.

Perhaps the most noticeable change other than performance is no more dirty wheel pants and fewer dead bugs on the airframe after a flight.








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[jasperlv]

david. the strip looks wonderful. what is the length & width? do you mind sharing the costs

[David-aviator]

Originally Posted by jasperlv

david. the strip looks wonderful. what is the length & width? do you mind sharing the costs

Go to

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...t=grass+ruNWAY

for the history on this project. The estimated cost was posted there some time ago.

The contractor (Mid River Asphalt, Moscow Mills, Missouri) would take no money up front and would bill when we were satisfied - and that we are.

The final cost, based on a state set asphalt cost index and actual material used, will be available in 2 or 3 days.

Runway length is 2170' x 25' wide.

[Ron Lee]

Congrats. I have seen some sort of sprayed grass seed that is green and may help. At least you live in an area where grass grows well.

[WishIHadOne]

Hey David that is some fine work you got accomplished. As far as the grass goes you are about 5 weeks away from some of the best grass growing weather this part of the country has to offer. As previously mentioned you should talk to a landscape or sod contractor about hydro-seeding the area that is to be the grass strip. This can be a very successful way of getting a great stand of grass and keep erosion to a minimum. I would recommend a turf-type fescue or even good ol' K31 fescue planted at a rate 1.5 times the recommended rate. With good blessings from the heavens in the form of fall rain, you will have a stand of grass to mow by November and thick lush turf in May. Good luck Roger D. from the west side of the state....

[David-aviator]

Originally Posted by WishIHadOne

Hey David that is some fine work you got accomplished. As far as the grass goes you are about 5 weeks away from some of the best grass growing weather this part of the country has to offer. As previously mentioned you should talk to a landscape or sod contractor about hydro-seeding the area that is to be the grass strip. This can be a very successful way of getting a great stand of grass and keep erosion to a minimum. I would recommend a turf-type fescue or even good ol' K31 fescue planted at a rate 1.5 times the recommended rate. With good blessings from the heavens in the form of fall rain, you will have a stand of grass to mow by November and thick lush turf in May. Good luck Roger D. from the west side of the state....

Thanks for the info, Roger.

Unfortunately, the sky has been dumping much rain this week. We had 3 inches today alone and more is on the way this evening. We have not had a chance to do anything with the grass area except install some small plastic fence material to slow down erosion. There was a plan to begin sowing wheat this afternoon but it has been a wipe out with water, too much of it.

Five days ago it was bone dry down 6 or 7 inches. Now things are saturated just like last fall. We are pleased the hard surface is in and we will get grass growing here eventually.

[WishIHadOne]

on the rain stuff. I live and die by it and sometimes it will just drive you nuts. The silt fences are a good idea they at least slow the water down. If you do get some rutting you could look for some wattles, straw filled tubes about 25 feet long and the diameter of a 2lb. coffee can. Lay those in the rut to try and slow the momentum of the flow.

The wheat idea is good but might hinder any turf establishment you try to do this fall. Good luck.