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A day I will always remember!

Re: A day I will always remember!

Planecents said:
Ken added it later to his post
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Thanks. I hadn't looked back at the original post to see if anything had changed.

Ken: As you know, Sven had a lot of fun landing on grass or unimproved fields. I think it's appropriate that 82J should find a home on the grass. Well done.
 
Re: A day I will always remember!

Hi All.

Today I made the first departure from Grand Oaks. I used the same runway 36 as I landed on. It went extremely well although the ground roll was rather long. Best I can estimate it was 1800'. Directional control was a handful and forward visibility very poor.

I had 85 pounds of ballast at the rear of the baggage area giving me a CG of slightly aft of envelope center. The nose wheel was off the ground for most of the takeoff roll causing the poor visibility and directional control.

Fortunately I was headed for the gap in the trees that is 250' wide.

I have a lot to learn.

Life is a barrel of fun.

Ken
 

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Re: A day I will always remember!

Ken,
Sorry if you mentioned before: What is the length of 36? and do you have the coordinates of the field?
 
Re: A day I will always remember!

John,

Runway 18-36 is 4600' long, the crosswind runway 06-24 is 2000'
Both 36 and 24 will have displaced thresholds due to high trees.

18-36 is 100' wide with a mowed safety area of 75' each side. 06-24 will be 75' wide with same safety areas.

The way to find from the air is from Pecan VOR, (PZD) the airport center is 4 nm on the 346 radial.

31. 43'29"N 84.18'41"W

I am not sure of the height of the trees on either runway, I have to figure out how to measure them and then how to calculate the displaced threshold.

Life is a barrel of fun.

Ken
 
Re: A day I will always remember!

Ken,
You have done a fantastic job building your airport.
I cannot wait to see her.
Pat
 
Re: A day I will always remember!

Get a pencil or stick, hold it out at arms length. Line up bottom with base of the tree, make note where the top of the tree is on stick, then just rotate stick 90 degrees and note on ground where the top of the stick is. Go out to that point and measure to the tree base. Learned that in grade school!
 
Re: A day I will always remember!

Ken
I think your question is the location of the thresh hold. If you are using FAA standards. The thresh hold is determined by the type of approach (VFR, IFR, precision, non-precision), runway surface and length of runway and even the distance of the object (tree) from the center of the runway as well as the height of the obstruction. In your case, it is a little more simple.
The standard is: http://www.risingup.com/fars/info/77-index.shtml
I will try to get you a simple answer for private airports.
I have a meeting with Michigan DOT in Lansing tomorrow about our city airport. I do not expect a simple answer from them, but I will try.
 
Re: A day I will always remember!

Thanks Dave, the simplest things are the most practical !!
 
Re: A day I will always remember!

Today (Thursday) I had to go to work and pay bills. Unlike Pete I have a day job, not that many days a week any more. Lots of fun to stay home.

The Commander is back at the airport but I plan to fly her back to Grand Oaks on Saturday and maybe even do a series of landings and take offs.

VISITORS.

Please, I encourage visitors. Commander owners are generally very smart folks. I am needing help with ideas and suggestions. Just another set of eyes and brains.

I have two guest rooms and the penthouse suite, Commander owners are always welcome.

Would be best to land at Dawson (16J) and look at the field first, as of now it is just officially a hay field.(thinking your insurance coverage)

I would really like to sit down with Commander owners over a cold beer and swap ideas,
after they have seen the place and have a better idea of the situation.

We only have two rules at Grand Oaks Plantation.

1. No skinny dipping before 8 pm.
2. Beer must be consumed out of a glass.

Life is a barrel of fun.

Ken
 
Re: A day I will always remember!

Great work Ken. Perhaps you can find a tent somewhere to provide temporary shelter for 82J when she is in residence...? At least until you build the hangar. [emoji6]
 
Re: A day I will always remember!

Ken
A dream come true. We know it was a lot of work but now you can say it was worth all the time and effort.
 
Re: A day I will always remember!

Things are going great at the farm. Lots of landings and take offs under my belt.

Another milestone as I sat in the rocking chair with a cold beer, admiring the Commander.

Life is a barrel of fun.

Ken
 

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Re: A day I will always remember!

Now that's living. Looking good Ken.
 
Re: A day I will always remember!

Very nice Ken.
 
Re: A day I will always remember!

Cheers Ken! Looking comfy for sure. I bet if you put up a tent, you could have a fly in on any given weekend. It must be very satisfying to rock and admire your accomplishments. Kudos!
 
Re: A day I will always remember!

ken fabulous achievement - Sherman knows what setting up a tree Farm in teh middle of rural forested VA is like.

Sven would have been proud of you for the hard and determined work and its achievement.

David Loose suggestion is good do you know any Tent rentals outfits nearby?

Wonderful and we should at minimum do a SE Commanders' fly-in soon.
Marvelous my congratulations
 
Re: A day I will always remember!

Ken,

Man you've worked hard and have a dream! Your place looks amazing!

Dean

ksandrew said:
Things are going great at the farm. Lots of landings and take offs under my belt.

Another milestone as I sat in the rocking chair with a cold beer, admiring the Commander.

Life is a barrel of fun.

Ken
Click to expand...
 
Re: A day I will always remember!

This is so cool. Jealous. I have a farm (well woods mostly on the side of a mountain) but unless i had STOLL, i wouldn't even think of the project ..
 
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