RE: AT LAST!!! Our new ProPex Runway is down (Full Version)

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Big_Bird -> RE: AT LAST!!! Our new ProPex Runway is down (5/3/2005 5:39:37 PM)

We put 8"staples down every 10" to 12". We have 100 12" spikes and washers on back order which will be installed as soon as they come in.

Dave, I would be really surprised if a 60 mph wind pulled this runway up.

Ken



FLYBOY -> RE: AT LAST!!! Our new ProPex Runway is down (5/3/2005 6:44:34 PM)

We used 6 inch spikes every 4 to 6 inches, and the wind was in the 40 to 50 knot range. It took up some of the mats in that have been in the pitts for a few years that were in with spikes every few feet. The runway didn't get touched. We get 60+ knot winds once in a while, and I am hoping this stuff will stay down. I don't think it will be a problem though.



F3AFlyer7 -> RE: AT LAST!!! Our new ProPex Runway is down (5/4/2005 4:59:53 AM)

What would be the best base to use for this? I've been wanting to get a paved runway at our club forever but the park we fly in is leased to us by the state. If we put anything in, it has to be removable and the area has to be in the condition it started in, so I figured this would be the best stuff for that! Is it best to put this down on the existing grass we have or cut it out and fill with sand or gravel?

Thanks!



FLYBOY -> RE: AT LAST!!! Our new ProPex Runway is down (5/4/2005 4:17:26 PM)

If we had grass, we wouldn't have put this stuff down. Most of our members want grass.

How smooth is the surface you have? What is the composition? If it is smooth, I would shave the grass right down to the dirt, and put it down right over it.



Big_Bird -> RE: AT LAST!!! Our new ProPex Runway is down (5/4/2005 4:36:58 PM)

Your ProPex or Geotex or Petromat runway, of course, will be as smooth as the ground below it. If you need to do any filling, get sand with very few rocks in it. Mow the grass pretty low and install the fabric directly over the grass. The grass will die below the fabric. If you are required to remove it in the future, it's just a matter of pulling the staples and/or spikes and rolling it up, then reseeding. Installing requires work but is very easy to do.

One advantage besides cost, over asphault, that we have noticed is that fabric provides some rolling resistance similar to grass. This makes for somewhat shorter landings. If a prop strike should cut the fabric, simply cut a piece for a patch and iron.... oops staple it on.

Ken



F3AFlyer7 -> RE: AT LAST!!! Our new ProPex Runway is down (5/4/2005 8:32:09 PM)

We have a very well kept grass field and it isn't really that bumpy at all. Would it even be worth installing this stuff if our grass doesnt pose a big problem, or does the ProPex show a significantly better aspect about it.



FLYBOY -> RE: AT LAST!!! Our new ProPex Runway is down (5/4/2005 10:26:58 PM)

Was going to use the goop you put on an RV roof to stop leaks to glue on the patch instead of stapling it. That way you don't have a bunch of staples in the middle of it.. What do you think?

Haven't heard anyone whine about the 3000 staples we put down to hold the mats down interfering with the radios yet. [X(] Kind of expected it.



Big_Bird -> RE: AT LAST!!! Our new ProPex Runway is down (5/5/2005 12:59:03 AM)

Scott, if you have a nice grass runway and don't mind the up keep and most folks are happy with the grass then I think you would be wasting time and money to put ProPex down.

Our situation was different. The reason that we lost our field, which was on school property and had an 80' by 800' (approximately) paved runway, was a large housing boom in the area. If some people could just hear our planes, they would complain to the school board. Finally, the school board, being highly sensitive to complaints told us to leave. We had been very good custodians of the property for over 10 years. We found another field that we rent a 300' by 1200' portion of 92 acres. We have overfly rights to the rest of the field which grows hay.

As you probably know, the membership dwindled in between fields. The few that stuck with us wanted the ProPex runway so that the mowing and maintenance would be kept to a minimum.

That's my story and I'm stickin to it.

Flyboy, another club that I belong to has a Petromat runway and patches have always been stapled down there. Believe me, a small plane with little wheels and wheel pants will never notice the patches and staples. I read where some use contact glue with the patch. I think that would work well also. The roof goop would be fine if it didn't get sticky in the hot summer sun.

Ken
www.hawkfield.org



Big_Bird -> RE: AT LAST!!! Our new ProPex Runway is down (5/8/2005 12:12:29 AM)

Here are a couple of photos of the drag that we built to smooth the ground.



Kellermann -> RE: AT LAST!!! Our new ProPex Runway is down (5/9/2005 12:07:46 PM)

Hi Ken,
just to throw in some information from the lower hemisphere...I belong to a second club who is also getting it's new flying site after 5 years in standby mode since we were told to go as well...now we got a beautiful site which we are renting for a mere USD (converted) 200,- a month, and we are carrying the costs of building a concrete runway. Concrete is still the main building material in Brazil.
Approx. cost. USD (converted) 2,500.-

Our runway will be aprox. 15 x 180m, and the Caterpillars were at work already...
At the other end there will be a lake for float flying.

Will post more pics as work progresses...the second pic is a sim, obviously.

Marcus



Big_Bird -> RE: AT LAST!!! Our new ProPex Runway is down (5/9/2005 4:19:11 PM)

Marcus, that really will be classy when it is finished. We had to do ours the poor boy way.

Ken



Gremlin Castle -> RE: AT LAST!!! Our new ProPex Runway is down (4/20/2006 8:35:10 PM)

This thread has been dormant for a while so it is time for a one year follow up.
After one year the material is doing well. So far it has survived winds in excess of 70 mph plus the driest year on record plus a recent flash flood. Hey, after all this is Texas where extreme can become commonplace.
At this point the general feeling of the membership is still very positive and given the resources we would put down more.
quote:

ORIGINAL: DaveJohansen

When you say huge wind, how much is huge. One concern I've heard is wind tearing it up. We can get winds gusting to 60mph.




heartbeat -> RE: AT LAST!!! Our new ProPex Runway is down (4/21/2006 12:30:11 AM)

HI GUYS I FLY WITH KEN ON ONE OF THE TWO CLUBS THAT WE ARE IN. (HAWK-FIELD- FLYERS) OF TEXAS AND (GTRCC. GOLDEN TRYANGLE R.C. CLUB)WE HAVE PETRO-MAT DOWN. WITH SPIKES AND LONG STAPLES ABOUT 1 FOOT LONG . SPACED ABOUT 18 INCHES APART. LOOKED GREAT .EXCEPT FOR A LITTLE MUD AT A COUPLE OF SPOTS, FROM SOME VERY WILD STORMS WITH 70MPH WINDS.[:D]



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