Landing Grass

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Colin
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Landing Grass

Post by Colin »

This image is from the latest Diamond Air Mail.

Doesn't that seem like DA42 pilots should be able to land on grass strips and taxi about with impunity?

Last time I asked no one had done it. Is that still true?

Apparently the factory pilot from London would come down and land a DA62 on a grass strip with me to show me how capable it is.

I miss Katama.
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CFIDave
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Re: Landing Grass

Post by CFIDave »

Back when we had a DA42-VI, we landed it on grass at multiple locations:

- At Triple-Tree Aerodrome SC00 in South Carolina. Of course that was "cheating" since the grass runway there is 7000 feet long, uses the same smooth short grass as golf course greens, and even has embedded sprinklers in it. An L39 jet landed right after we did!

- At the 3000 foot grass strip at Long Island Airpark NC26 in North Carolina (north of Charlotte on Lake Norman) to visit some friends who live there. With a lightly loaded DA42, I used little more than half the runway for the takeoff roll.

By Katama, I presume you mean 1B2 on Marthas Vineyard, MA? We flew our DA62 into the main KMVY airport the only time we've visited the island, but took a bus over to Katama Airpark just to check out the operations and eat at a nice little restaurant there. From the ground it looked like it would be a great place to land a DA42 or DA62 on the 3700 foot grass runway, since you can then walk to the beach.
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Colin
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Re: Landing Grass

Post by Colin »

From the ground it looked like it would be a great place to land a DA42 or DA62 on the 3700 foot grass runway, since you can then walk to the beach.
Exactly. The restaurant is now different, the burger place having balked at a rent increase, so it is a little taco place. I haven't eaten there yet. I landed twice in the DA40 and loved it. I have yet to set the DA42 down.
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Re: Landing Grass

Post by ememic99 »

November Mud :D
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D-GCOB
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Re: Landing Grass

Post by D-GCOB »

We have landed a couple times on grass at different locations: EHAL, EDXN and EDXY. In EDXN was the shortest runway with just 600m - 1970ft. To be honest I wouldn't do this again since the airfield was in a very bad condition after winter in March 2016. The Gyronimo App confirmed that it is possible - even with longer grass.
In Ameland (EHAL) the runway is 800m - and even with 4 persons (310kg) and good filled main tanks no problem but the new Scimitar props have their portion here as well I believe.
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wolfvoador
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Re: Landing Grass

Post by wolfvoador »



See my video of landing in a small unlisted strip in Northern Haiti, been there several times. Landing is great, the challenge is the takeoff, combined grass-chopping props, bumpy surface, altitude and heat.... But fortunately almost 4,000 ft, time and length to call it off if not in solid rotation or airborne at halfway point.
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Colin
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Re: Landing Grass

Post by Colin »

That looks great, Wolfgang. I don't have an NG, but I assume my prop clearance will be similar. I think this should be my project for the summer: figuring out how to safely and easily land at Katama.
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michael.g.miller
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Re: Landing Grass

Post by michael.g.miller »

Colin wrote: Sun Dec 12, 2021 3:34 pm That looks great, Wolfgang. I don't have an NG, but I assume my prop clearance will be similar. I think this should be my project for the summer: figuring out how to safely and easily land at Katama.
I’d be very curious to know your experience at Katama. I’ve always wanted to land there, but grass has scared me away.
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Re: Landing Grass

Post by p3dave »

I'm thinking if they can do it.....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqDlBFUdIgE

I learned on grass a half century ago, still use grass when I can. It is important to know your field before you attempt it, what weather conditions make it unusable (usually heavy rains) and be proficient on your short/soft field techniques.
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Colin
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Re: Landing Grass

Post by Colin »

I landed twice in our DA40. I loved it. It was a piece of cake. But I am nervous about the DA42, getting it down and discovering the ground is too soft of something. I think next time I am out there I'll talk to the guys that do the biplane rides.
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