limited landing area. How big can I get away with?

[Dr. Gonzo]

Alright, my first post and an odd question. I have been flying my foam 3dhs yak 54 here (48"). No problems. I have unlimited air space but a bit of a restricted landing area. I have a great aproach over 2 ponds. The actual area to touch down is short. I am sure I could do a balsa 48" here. I have all the gear in the Yak. Bonus. Then the thoughts of a 30cc pop up? I am confident a 60" electric would be fine. I really have not owned anything ove 72" and that was years ago and certainly not a modern 3d plane. I have a little air video I will see if I can post. I may have to put in a bigger strip! But for now I need to deal with what I have. Thanks for the input!

 

[gyro]

Hey Gonzo,

First - read this article: http://www.3drcforums.com/content.php?225-How-to-Land-a-3D-airplane
Second - can you provide some approximate size estimate of your field?

I know for me, I used to fly on a 150x20 ft landing strip, surrounded by rocks and desert brush. When I first started flying, I needed all of it just to land my 48" planes. But with persistence and practice, I was eventually able to harrier land some 30cc sized planes (electric versions), and then traditionally land them on that runway. The things that made it most challenging, was when I had crosswinds. When you have a finite landing space, you can't let the airplane weather-vane into the wind and land whichever way is easy. you need to be specific and deliberate on your cross-wind control inputs, and THAT takes a fair amount of practice.

Hope the above helps, looking forward to seeing you landing area.

-G

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

Thanks Gary! It is really a weird landing area. I have maybe 100 yard strip 20 ft wide. Pond on one side and a hill on the other. It opens into an area that is bigger maybe 50x50 with a sloping hill. I come over the pond or the strip depending on wind. When I started I thought the McFoamy would be the only thing I could fly here. Funny, as I progress I am getting more confident. It is good because It makes me work for good landings. Fighting a decaying approach to harrier landing at first to getting better. I will see if i can snagg the aerial video when I get home.

 

[quadracer]

I can drop my 89 Slick in on about 20' of runway, but I wouldn't try it on a 20' runway. I have flown it in and out of a ~75' x 35' strip, and I was a little nervous dropping it in there, but had plenty of room. I guess it all depends on how big of balls ya got!

 

[gyro]

I can drop my 89 Slick in on about 20' of runway, but I wouldn't try it on a 20' runway. I have flown it in and out of a ~75' x 35' strip, and I was a little nervous dropping it in there, but had plenty of room. I guess it all depends on how big of balls ya got!

Sam, guessing you're harrier landing right?

 

[quadracer]

Yeah, a scale landing would take around 50' of rollout

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

Been working on my "wheel" landings with the little 37" WM edge 540. It is the hardest plane I have to land consistant. Wire gear and small wheels make for imteresting landings. I may have to cut in a real strip to go much bigger or really get my harrier landings now. If the wind is low I can grab the 48" and smaller planes out of a hover. Not so much with a gasser! My real goal is to add a gas plane so I can get longer flight times and more practice.

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

Here is my first ever narrative video. The space between the trees is actually 45'. It is not the easiest to do a roll out landing here. You really have to stay low across the pond and grease it in.
[video=youtube;z9sMFBS2wlc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9sMFBS2wlc[/video]

 

[gyro]

Here is my first ever narrative video. The space between the trees is actually 45'. It is not the easiest to do a roll out landing here. You really have to stay low across the pond and grease it in.

Video is private

 

[quadracer]

Video is private..