Rough Field Landings

"G.R. Patterson III" wrote in message
...
It also might've already been harvested. When and where I grew up, the
farmers
would harvest the ears and cut the stalks for sileage. Such a field
wouldn't be
a bad landing spot most of the year.

This is a great point. Keep in mind what happens to your landing surface
through out the year and with weather changes. A field that you may
repeatedly fly over and think that would make a great emergency landing spot
may turn into an unseen swamp after even a light rain. In much of the
Midwest those perfectly flat farm fields make great options to consider, but
maybe not after periods of rain. Dark soil will retain more water than
sandy soil.

Those same fields that are soft and smooth in the summer may turn rock hard
and rough as hell if there isn't any snow cover. This is what central
Wisconsin looks like right now. Full of farm fields that were disked and
chisel plowed this fall but no snow cover to make them smooth. Perfect for
ripping your gear off no matter what direction you land. In this situation
I look for short grass without rocks because I know it hasn't changed. Here
the rocks are in the ridges and the land that happens to be farmed isn't
irrigated or farmed. Perfect landing spot this time of year would be a
field with a cover crop of rye or wheat with an irrigation system. I know
it will be smooth and rock free.

The same idea can be transferred to about lakes. The lake that you fly by
all summer long may turn into your best option once winter comes and it is
frozen over. Watch for ice fishermen... if the lake can support their cars,
chances are it will support your airplane. Avoid lakes without ice
fisherman, this can mean the ice isn't thick enough or that it is a spring
fed lake and doesn't freeze completely. Watch for snow drifts and touch
down as softly as possible, remember braking action will be nill.

Jim


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