What do you call a ?short runway??

N941WR · #1 10-25-2011, 03:15 PM

Today a friend posted this video of a Cessna landing on Fisher Island, NY. (Looks like a cool destination.) This runway is 2300? long and with a headwind, it shouldn?t be a problem for anyone.

It just cracks me up when people call 2300' a "short runway". Here is a link to where I did my first flight and kept the plane for four years. The only reason I moved was so I could get a better hangar. (The comments on this thread were disabled because the pilot got so much sh#$ from people (not me) about his landing and five mile final.) You can see the 1/2 way marker pass by just as he touches down.

What do you consider a short runway for your RV? (or other plane?)

For me, 1800 is short but I?ve done 1600? with the -9.

Mel · #2 10-25-2011, 03:33 PM

My "everyday" runway is 1500'. I would consider anything less than 1,000' short.

DeltaRomeo · #3 10-25-2011, 03:35 PM

On runway 17 at my home airport (52F), from the displaced threshold to the bravo turnoff (halfway down) is 1,420 feet - where I usually exit the runway. I’d call anything less than that in my RV-6 ‘short’. I could easily stop shorter with hard braking, and grass would knock 200’ off that easy cheesy.

aerhed · #4 10-25-2011, 03:37 PM

If you fly a Republic, they are all short.

apkp777 · #5 10-25-2011, 03:39 PM

Bill,

Like you, I think 1800' is my limit for short field. As has been discussed on many threads, the -9 (FP) is tough to land short without doing a low approach like your friend in the 172. It's the only thing I don't like about my performance is the planes inability to "chop and drop". At my home airport I routinely can make the first turn off (1000'), but not with out doing the low approach method. I hope to upgrade to a WW prop next year and I think that will make for a huge improvement.

Finley Atherton · #6 10-25-2011, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apkp777

Bill,

Like you, I think 1800' is my limit for short field. As has been discussed on many threads, the -9 (FP) is tough to land short without doing a low approach like your friend in the 172. It's the only thing I don't like about my performance is the planes inability to "chop and drop". At my home airport I routinely can make the first turn off (1000'), but not with out doing the low approach method. I hope to upgrade to a WW prop next year and I think that will make for a huge improvement.

Tony,
I have not flown a FP 9 but I operate my 9A with a Hartzell CS prop from my short strip (1,420 ft at 4,250 altitude with lowish obstacles) and even with the CS prop it is reluctant to loose height if the power is chopped at speeds over about 60 kts. All my approaches from about mid final onwards are at 55 to 60 kts depending on weight and I don't need to do a flat /low approach as it will drop like a rock without power at these speeds.

I would be interested to know what the descent rate is like with the FP prop if you chop the power at 55 kts?

Fin
9A

mkbreezy · #7 10-25-2011, 04:33 PM

I am using a 1250 foot strip with trees at both ends. The CS prop at 55 to 60 kts with a slip works very well. I am routinely stopping with 3 to 4 hundred feet remaining. I must emphasize that this is with the Anti Splat Aero "Nose Job" installed. This type of approach is murder on the nose strut, and I am positive I would have been on my back already without it. I also did a lot of practice at longer strips before attempting the home strip.

mkbreezy · #8 10-25-2011, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N941WR

Today a friend posted this video of a Cessna landing on Fisher Island, NY. (Looks like a cool destination.) This runway is 2300? long and with a headwind, it shouldn?t be a problem for anyone.

Just looked at the linked video, and while it is a great view of the landing, its not Fishers Island. I know that airport well, as I have landed there in everything from a 421 to a Citation II. The approaches are over water for the long runway, so getting it on the end is not a big deal.

L.Adamson · #9 10-25-2011, 04:51 PM

Two weeks ago, I watched one of those guys with a fan on his back (and a chute), land everytime in the bed of his small Toyota truck. He'd land in the bed, step out off the bumper, and take a few steps to take off again. A 6' truck bed is what I'd call short..

L.Adamson

N546RV · #10 10-25-2011, 04:57 PM

As a student pilot, on my long cross-country, I flew the DA-20 to a 3000' runway with a 700' displaced threshold. I didn't think it was anything dramatic, even given my lack of skill/experience. That's the shortest one I've been on, though I remain a seriously low-time dude tooling around in rented spam cans...