Ok I have been flying I'm columbus ohio for some time, we have a concrete starting area, then drive off into the grass to take off.

I now fly in around Rock Island Arsenal IL, and we fly off a sod farm, nice grass but the owners are not happy with the brown dead grass strips were I tend to start and roll out to the fight line.

We are not allowed to put down anything that is permanit, so I need to build/bring something to the feild to prevent more dead grass.

I have seen a peace of dryer duct with wood legs but this was more for protecting the elevators on Velox or falcon type planes.

I fly f16, f15, Eurosport, Velox XL, F86 and some projects on the way. So one pipe won't work for all these different types of jets

Do you have any pictures of what you use?

I'm heading to Lowes today to see what I can come up with.

I was thinking about useing a peace of 1/4 4'x4' ply. Cutting it in 1/2 making a 2 2x4strips . Cover the ply with some type of aluminum If needed. But a hing in the middle to make it easier to carry. Then I could put something under it so the far side would ramp up a little. Basically a 8' x 2' protector with a little ramp that I can fold up and put in the van.

I wish there was some kink of mat I could k
just roll out.

How much heat do you think a Matt would actually suffer, it's not like it's a blast shield deverting the exsaust just protecting the grass?

Any pic or ideals?

How about a silicone mat. They have small ones for baking on. I am sure there is a supplier out there where you could buy a much larger one.

Have you thought about making a blast shield using a large cookie sheet? Could have it screwed to wood at a 45 degree angle and it wood deflect the heat away from the grass. Also wouldnt be so heavy. Could actually screw hinges at the top of the cookie sheet and have it hinged to wood legs. When done just fold it up and put it away Just an idea

Spent $34 at lowes. Got a peace of 14inx10foot aluminum some 2inx1/4in wood strips and bam, I need to go get some better screws, I thought I had some.

It folds in 1/2 to carry and is very light. What you think?

Looks like it will work just fine!!

Oh, I thought you were going to say don't have a 175 pilot week long Jet Rally in the middle of El Nino monsoon !!! LOL


Danno

What use is a 6 foot folding table. You will never burn the grass during startup or test runs. Added benefit of you don't have to stoop to refuel, airup retracts, nice flat surface for any work you might need to do.

Thanks I do bring a folding table to assemble my jets.

I think my little folding defector worked well today