About 20 years ago at Keepit we did the full on tar pads 400m x 6 or 8 m.
with 50cm dig out and gravel compaction. At the time it cost a bit more
than an LS4!! and we got half paid by sport & rec grant. We did a prime
coat and final coat 18 months later to spread the cost load. Fine stones
were bit of a problem for 3or 4 years although I would get the local council to
come out and sweep before a comps. The other positive is it gave a chance for
the rest of the strip to catch up and re grass. One problem is tug pilots
tend to go down the middle of tar at end and then we had a minor problem at end
of tar. I would remind tug pilots to go one side or the other and
most would forget - The only way is arrow near end of tar to remind them!
400m is long enough except we were operating 100m in from end of tar so
careful placement is important. Back in late '70s we did think of
irrigation as Waikerie were doing at the time. Anyhow tar was expensive
but it was a good decision for the long term and all these days would agree I am
sure. Keepit in the late 70s and early 80s was a dust bowl.
Ian Mc Phee
Box 657 Byron Bay NSW 2481
Australia
Tel (61) 266 847 642 (Fax 942)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]www.mrsoaring.com for radios xponders
microphones wingstands instruments and much more
"If Flying were the langauge
of man, Soaring would be its poetry"
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 10:06
PM
Subject: [aus-soaring] Glider launching
areas on your airstrip/aerodrome
I was thinking that perhaps there was some useful
experience out in the soaring electronic ether as to how other gliding
sites have dealt with the matter of resurfacing their glider take off
areas. Is there some experience which
some of you may be able share with us? We have some ideas on what to do
but perhaps some sites have taken action and then had time to see how the
ideas actually worked out.
At Bacchus Marsh we have finally come to the
stage where we have to act to overcome the seriously rough ground at the two
most used launch ends. Over the past decade or so the Pawnees have
tended to blast the ground with propeller slipstream harder than the Super
Cubs which early on were the only tugs we had. Moreover the last four
winters have been very dry which certainly doesn't help. And yes it is
going to be difficult to rest the affected areas whilst the restoration work
proceeds. Our aim is to achieve smooth well grassed launch areas,
probably grass all over but perhaps with a bitumen launch strip
inset.
We are aware of the effort at Locksley where the
ground has been flattened with a 'land plane' and the area(s) regrassed, and
we will revisit there to see again first hand and enquire more
closely.
Some sites have put in bitumen take-off strips
for glider launching, eg. Benalla, Bathurst, Beverley (?). This appears
to be a good idea at first sight but does it work in the longer term?
How long does it have to be? What sort of width? What sort of
cost? Whilst this approach deals with the immediate take-off run,
it still leaves one having to restore the grass surrounding the bitumen
strip. So are bitumen take-off strips cost effective or is the money
best spent on regrassing all over?
Have people succeeded in regrassing in dry land
areas with minimal watering or has it taken significant watering to establish
the new grass? What sort of grasses have been selected? We have
had some advice as to native grasses and exotic grasses which may suit but
nevertheless it would be interesting to know what others have used.
Grass selection of course depends on local conditions. Whilst we are in
southern Victoria, nevertheless we are in a low rainfall area at 18" average
(450 mm) per year. As always this is variable. We don't have an
issue with flooding or waterlogging as there are adequate gradients for
drainage. Also we don't have a significant frost problem which can
be an issue for some grass types.
I realise I am not necessarily expressing all of
the issues all that well, but it is late at night.
It may be that an electronic reply has merit, or
perhaps a real time human to human telephone communication may be quicker and
more direct. So I append my telephone number.
Thanks in anticipation
Roger Druce
Tel: 03 9439 8947
Fax: 03 9431
4175
