Narrow Runways

Dudley Henriques wrote:

"Kyle Boatright" wrote in message
...

What's the narrowest runway you've ever used? At what runway width are
you comfortable?


I remember working a Cal Air A9 one sunny day a long time ago and putting it
down on a two lane country road that had telephone poles lined up nicely on
each side. Does that count ? :-)
Dudley Henriques



Depends on the width of the road. :-)


Matt

Kyle,

The paved runway at Dodge Field, (now closed) north of Des Moines,
Iowa, was 14 x 2,500 feet. The airport was quite busy, with the
state's largest Cessna dealer being based there for some years. A 400
series Cessna would straddle the runway, with the nosewheel on
centerline, the mains would be in the grass on either side. There was
a wide grass area to the west of the runway that people often used, but
it was slightly lower and not usable in winter or when things were
soggy. The airport was built in World War I (that's I, not II) to
support the adjacent large military post, Camp Dodge. It was
originally a square mile; eventually four grass runways were laid out.
It went into civilian hands at some point and much of the land was sold
off, leaving the one, north-south runway. The Army wanted it paved and
cut a deal to split the cost with the FBO. The Army came in and laid a
14 x 2,500 foot strip of asphalt. The FBO reneged on the deal. He
simply painted a dashed line down the centerline. The airport closed
in the late '70s or early '80s and is now a part of Pioneer Hybrid's
large agricultural holdings. Some of the hangars are still standing.
I think the runway is now a driveway into the complex.

I soloed a number of students on that runway. They started out getting
used to a very narrow runway and to them it was normal. I was very
cautious about letting them out in crosswinds.

If you ever have the chance to fly in the country of Belize, you'll
find a number of extremely narrow runways, some barely wider than your
landing gear, including some that are too narrow to turn around on,
even by locking one main wheel and pivoting, you have to taxi clear to
the end to turn around. At Placencia, the runway is about two feet
wider than the gear of the Cessna 208s that serve it. For half the
runway length there is water on both sides. It does get your
attention. A number of the runways also have potholes, so you have to
select your touchdown site and rollout path pretty carefully. In
giving airport checkouts to some pilots from the U.S. in Cessna 185s,
206s and 337s, most spent a bit of time being amazed at how narrow the
runways were. It usually only took about two landings before they
adjusted and did fine.

Belize City Municipal (not International) is not as wide as the
wingspan of a Cessna 206 although you can turn around on it, but it's
only 1,700 feet long and has water on one side as well as at each end.
it is considered poor form to miss the midfield turnoff on landing as
it's a busy airport. One of the best things about the airport is that
there is a small restaurant/bar right at the departure end of runway 12
(prevailing wind runway). You can sit outside, under a thatched
umbrella, drinking cold beers and be right there as heavily loaded
Cessna 207s, 208s and Gippsland Airvans use almost every bit of the
runway getting airborne. It's a pleasant way to spend a few hours.
The Belizean pilots are very, very good.

All the best,
Rick

15 feet. I was bringing a J-3 home to its new owner and the guy asked
me to bring it to his airfield. It was paved (but cracking) but the
grass around it had grown up onto the runway. Putting a J-3 on a 15
foot wide runway it interesting because you can't see ahead of you (you
fly from the back) I lost sight of the runway just as the wheels
touched. I had to take it on faith that I was still on the runway. Once
I was at taxi speed I could taxi by looking straight down and watching
the wheel.

-Robert

On 11 May 2005 07:57:14 -0700, "Robert M. Gary"
wrote:

15 feet. I was bringing a J-3 home to its new owner and the guy asked
me to bring it to his airfield. It was paved (but cracking) but the
grass around it had grown up onto the runway. Putting a J-3 on a 15
foot wide runway it interesting because you can't see ahead of you (you
fly from the back) I lost sight of the runway just as the wheels
touched. I had to take it on faith that I was still on the runway. Once
I was at taxi speed I could taxi by looking straight down and watching
the wheel.

That's what wheelies are for!

(There is of course a point when the tail comes down. 15 feet is
pretty narrow for S turns!)



-- all the best, Dan Ford

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15 feet. I was bringing a J-3 home to its new owner and the guy asked
me to bring it to his airfield. It was paved (but cracking) but the
grass around it had grown up onto the runway. Putting a J-3 on a 15
foot wide runway it interesting because you can't see ahead of you (you
fly from the back) I lost sight of the runway just as the wheels
touched. I had to take it on faith that I was still on the runway. Once
I was at taxi speed I could taxi by looking straight down and watching
the wheel.


Geez, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up reading that one!

--
--
=-----
Good Flights!

Cecil
PP-ASEL-IA
Student - CP-ASEL

Check out my personal flying adventures from my first flight to the
checkride AND the continuing adventures beyond!
Complete with pictures and text at: www.bayareapilot.com

"I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery -

"We who fly, do so for the love of flying. We are alive in the air with
this miracle that lies in our hands and beneath our feet"
- Cecil Day Lewis -
"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
oups.com...

-Robert

What's the narrowest runway you've ever used? At what runway width are
you
comfortable?

40 feet wide with trees on both ends and one side. The surface is asphalt in
poor condition including cracks with grass growing through, faded runway
markings, and several bumps (as rough as speed bumps).

I have no problem flying into and out of 40 feet wide in cessna 172, even in
15 knots crosswind. For me, I would be more concerned with the surrounding
than the runway width.

Toks Desalu
PP_ASEL
"Dyin' to soar!"

There was a writeup a few weeks ago on the retired South African
Airways 747 that was flown to its museum airfield & landed on a 50'
wide asphalt strip, down and stopped in 2300 ft. There was about 3 ft
edge distance for the 747 gear. It was an incredible piece of
airmanship.

I can't find the url for anything on it though. Did anyone else save
it?

"nrp" wrote:

There was a writeup a few weeks ago on the retired South African
Airways 747 that was flown to its museum airfield & landed on a 50'
wide asphalt strip, down and stopped in 2300 ft. There was about 3 ft
edge distance for the 747 gear. It was an incredible piece of
airmanship.

Indeed!
http://www.skypark.org/747Landing.htm


Greetings,
Markus

Just SWEET! What an a/c and what a nice piloting job.

Markus Voget wrote:
"nrp" wrote:


There was a writeup a few weeks ago on the retired South African
Airways 747 that was flown to its museum airfield & landed on a 50'
wide asphalt strip, down and stopped in 2300 ft. There was about 3 ft
edge distance for the 747 gear. It was an incredible piece of
airmanship.


Indeed!
http://www.skypark.org/747Landing.htm


Greetings,
Markus

Markus Voget wrote:

"nrp" wrote:


There was a writeup a few weeks ago on the retired South African
Airways 747 that was flown to its museum airfield & landed on a 50'
wide asphalt strip, down and stopped in 2300 ft. There was about 3 ft
edge distance for the 747 gear. It was an incredible piece of
airmanship.


Indeed!
http://www.skypark.org/747Landing.htm

Too cool!

Matt