I did some grass and shot an approach...is that bad?

Sinistar

Sinistar

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Brad
New CFI insisted i do some grass, i was pretty hesitant but figured he knows this stuff better than me. So did it 4 times. I guess it didnt do too much for me :) The ground is pretty hard so i thought it felt more like a field than a runway. Was definitely worth it though, theres simulated and real. Definitely a good PPL experience.

Afterwards we shot an approach with ILS. No, not trying to start IR before PPL. Actually wanted to verify all plane equipment was working (glidescope, marker lights). Was kinda neat doing a 12 mile arc into a long final with all the gadgets working.
 
Please don't "shoot approaches" or "take runways". It's selfish and unfair to other pilots who may need them.

Feel free to take craps though. Most every pilot is full up with those.
 
Dana said:
Uh oh, you're in trouble. Everybody knows that grass is a gateway that leads to the harder stuff, like dirt, gravel bars, mountain tops, etc.
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I have done grass numerous times. I have tried dirt and gravel. I stay out of bars but am open to mountain tops.
 
Grass runways are fun. I was fortunate to instruct for a number of years at an airport that had a paved 09-27 runway, and a grass 18-36 runway. Practice area was 5 minutes away. A lot of fun for students to experience an actual grass runway for takeoff and landings, efficient use of the student's time and money with the practice area so close, and a Class D airport 10-15 minutes away. Also had owner's permission to use grass runways at 3 other private strips within 15 minutes C152 cruising speed. Fun times.
 
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Ravioli said:
Please don't "shoot approaches" or "take runways". It's selfish and unfair to other pilots who may need them.

Feel free to take craps though. Most every pilot is full up with those.
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Crap...I should have "taken" the runway right after "shooting" it. And there was no tower, could've gotten away with this time :)
 
Sinistar said:
Crap...I should have "taken" the runway right after "shooting" it. And there was no tower, could've gotten away with this time :)
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As long as there no witnesses to shooting the runway I wouldn't worry. BTW we call that road kill down here, and someone will stop, pick it, take it home, and BBQ it. No evidence see? And so like I said, nothing to worry about.
 
Clark1961 said:
I have done grass numerous times. I have tried dirt and gravel. I stay out of bars but am open to mountain tops.
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I think a pair of mountain tops should be mandatory for my PPL!
 
N659HB said:
Thought tailwheels were the gateway? :D

Glad you had fun.
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I'm hiding this post from my wife. We sold her old Chief to get the Skylane and I know she was secretly looking at 185's during our search.
 
mscard88 said:
Grass runways are fun. I was fortunate to instruct for a number of years at an airport that had a paved 09-27 runway, and a grass 18-36 runway. Practice area was 5 minutes away. A lot of fun for students to experience an actual grass runway for takeoff and landings, efficient use of the student's time and money with the practice area so close, and a Class D airport 10-15 minutes away. Also had owner's permission to use grass runways at 3 other private strips within 15 minutes C152 cruising speed. Fun times.
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My new instructor loves grass and tail :) It was very interesting doing actual grass takeoffs and landings. I know at a minimum now when I practice them on pavement what to really expect. I just wish this could have been before our ground froze up for the winter. The whole time I'm wondering if main gear will rip off. And even though frozen, the engine needed a lot more Rev than I ever would have thought just to move or taxi.

And typical of flying, it isn't just one experience there's like 3 lessons in a bunch. While we're back taxiing, this gorgeous Centurion (drooling now) is taxiing to the big paved strip which the grass strip crosses at about 7/8 of its full length. So my instructor called the other plane to clarify who would go first (them) which meant I needed to actually stop on the grass now that we reached the end and turned for takeoff. Took a bit of Skylane MOJO to get moving again. However, we were off well before crossing the paved runway. I'm thinking when I needed to stop I should have just did another big ground circle while the 210 puffed it's feathers.

It feels really weird departing directly thru the main runway's downwind.

The CFI also emphasized announcing we are landing on "the sod" when there are a mix of runways. Makes sense and wouldn't have thought of that.
 
When you want horses, you take the horses! When you want tequila, you take the tequila! When you want the runway... You just TAKE the runway.

-El Guapo

Sorry.. My mind drifted to The Three Amigos there for a sec.
 
mscard88 said:
Grass runways are fun. I was fortunate to instruct for a number of years at an airport that had a paved 09-27 runway, and a grass 18-36 runway. Practice area was 5 minutes away. A lot of fun for students to experience an actual grass runway for takeoff and landings, efficient use of the student's time and money with the practice area so close, and a Class D airport 10-15 minutes away. Also had owner's permission to use grass runways at 3 other private strips within 15 minutes C152 cruising speed. Fun times.
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When'd you teach at Wetumpka? It's a short hop from here, and CAP flies gliders some weekends between the NG C-130s practicing nearby. My first practice instrument approach in there on an IPC, looked like one had a TCAS resolution, banking and climbing rather sharply to avoid me about 6nm final for 27. . . .
 
Hank S said:
When'd you teach at Wetumpka? It's a short hop from here, and CAP flies gliders some weekends between the NG C-130s practicing nearby. My first practice instrument approach in there on an IPC, looked like one had a TCAS resolution, banking and climbing rather sharply to avoid me about 6nm final for 27. . . .
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'85 thru late '89. Used to be a busy little airport, like many were back then.
 
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