Happy 2013 everyone! By the time you read this, it will be cold in most areas of the country. However, spring and the flying season will be getting close. I thought it might be a good time to talk about your flying site and the runway in particular.
Most club flying sites are on grass runways. Grass sites are good, unless you are trying to take off or land a small airplane. Grass makes things difficult for small wheels and light models.
I grew up flying my airplanes on concrete runways because our club used old military fields for flying sites. As a result, I am accustomed to hard surfaces. I flew many different models on these runways throughout the years.
If your club is flying on grass and would like to try hard-surface runways to allow smaller models to take off and land, you are facing a large amount of money to put one of these on your field. Another option might be something you have not thought about: geotextile runways.
Geotextile runways have been around for several years now. I have spoken with several clubs that have installed them and are happy with the functionality and durability. The cost for the fabric varies because there are several suppliers. However, the price is much less than asphalt or concrete.
One such company is US Fabrics, which manufactures a product called 230 Aeromodelling Geotextile. It comes in 15-foot x 300-foot rolls and is delivered directly to your site. You can put several rolls together to make the runway size that you want.
The product, as stated on the website, “Is a 100% polypropylene, woven, monofilament fabric ideal for runway installation for model airplanes. US 230 resists ultraviolet and biological deterioration, rotting, naturally encountered basics and acids. Polypropylene is stable within a pH range of 2 to 13.”
US Fabrics has supplied several AMA clubs with the product. If you are interested, check out the company’s website at www.usfabricsinc.com.
I have spoken with a club that had this material down at a site for seven years then had to move to a new site. The club was able to roll up the runway and transport it to the new site. Club members reported that the material was still in great condition and is still working well at the new site.
This could be an option for many clubs seeking to add a runway but not put huge dollars into it.
I received an email from Tom Neff in Strasburg, Colorado, about a new flying site called Airpark Elite. This new site could support plenty of models. If you live nearby or visit this area, look it up!
Airpark Elite is currently under the final stages of construction after multiple hours of preparation.
The runway looking east.
Airpark will consist of two runways. One will be for electrics, and the other is a 600 x 44-foot-wide compacted Roto Mills runway for nitro- and gasoline-powered aircraft.
Electric runway.
The larger runway runs east-west, and the electric runway runs north-south. The pit area was designed to hold an ample number of cars and RVs. There are three tables for aircraft repairs and assembly. There are two shade structures composed of metal frames and tarp tops.
Shade structures.
Hangar/storage shed and pit area.
The new Airpark is located in Strasburg, Colorado, on a parcel that consists of 40 acres on private property. The address is 60600 E. 64th Ave., Strasburg, Colorado.
There are still multiple projects that need to be completed. As the field stands right now, it is open for flying, as long as you are a paid, active member of Airpark Elite and have a current AMA membership card.
After going through the many problems at the old Airpark with vandalism and destruction, security measures are in place.
The club is accepting new members. If you are interested, visit www.airparkelite.com.
