Gyros and grass runways?

[Joe Pires]

I currently fly my ppc from a 2000 ft grass runway on the north shore of Lake Harney in Florida. Do Gyros mind grass runways?

[Harry_S.]

Grass runways are fine...the smoother the better. Pasture land with pot holes, ruts, gopher mounds, tall grass etc. can spell trouble.

Hard surface runways are preferable in my opinion.


Cheers :)

[Aussie_Paul]

Gyros love grass. a lot more forgiving than tarmac and less damage to props etc than gravel/sand.

How the machine handles "rough" depends on suspension. Stock Rafs do not like "rough".

Aussie Paul.:)

[Screw]

Screw-In

Gyros are like most people. A little grass is good for ya!:eek:

sCREW-oUT

[scottessex]

Nothing like your first grass strip landing. The only problem is that if the runway is bumpy, you can't feel yourself balance on the mains on takeoff.
I have almost 70 hours on the gyro, and all but a few is from grass.

[mcbirdman]

Hey John 1st photo of yours..... Did you feel the need to direct wire the prerotator to help you get off the grass runway sooner???? Was it effective?

[mceagle]

Good one James. Good thing it went through the transformer first.

[Rehan K.Janjua]

Hello Joe.

Grass strips are great. As long as they are smooth and moved.
Less use of brakes and more bugs and insects.

Screw. Thank you for the lovely collection of pictures.

Best wishes.
Rehan

[birdy]

Been along time since i landed on grass.[ go'n on ou 6th year without rain] Wunder if alla's got sumthn to do with it?

[pbradley]

Gyros don't like taking off on longish grass. Remember years ago dropping into a farm paddock for a cuppa and had to make other arrangements after several unsucessful attempts at getting out. Just would not break clear of the grass.

[animal]

Screw-In

Gyros are like most people. A little grass is good for ya!:eek:

sCREW-oUT

Look at that nice green runway. it looks better then my lawn.

I miss summer time.

[scottessex]

Uh Thanks,
alot of time goes into maintaining that runway, and it is still bumpy on one end!

[Ga6riel]

speaking in purely general terms, grass is ofcourse ok as a strip but...
the longer the grass, the greater the rolling resistance, and this adds up to longer takeoff runs. On landing...wet grass will likely prolong braking.

[automan1223]

Most forgiving surface to learn on. GYRO will require more power to get off, up and out on grass.

[Doug Riley]

Ground steering with differential brakes on wet grass is... er... interesting. You wonder why the thing won't turn until you look out and see one of the mains, locked up and merrily sliding along on the soggy turf.

Mostly, grass is sweet, though.

[ventana7]

In general grass is much more forgiving than pavement so it is great for learning and practicing technique.