Runway ??? How to Make for cheap??
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Eaglecreek ,oregon
Posts: 29

Ok so maybe this is not the place to post or ask this, but here we go i would like to build a runway for my planes at the house. i currently only fly my hand/belly planes at the house ie stryker funjet foamy , but would like to be able to fly takeoff and land my nitro and balsa electric landing gear planes at home also i need some ideas or suggestions for building my runway my land is pretty flat but has fair amount of ruts which tend to hurt landing gear and airframes very damp in winter months ruts up easily when mowed i'm looking for a permanet solution other then blacktop or concrete how do i make the runway hold up thru winters and summers like grass field idea but hard to keep it smooth and flat here ive rolled and tilled and rolled again still doesn't stay flat for long ...Ideas???
#3
Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Dallastown, PA
Posts: 958

While the attached link is way more than you might be looking for, there may be a suitable material available relatively inexpensively.
http://www.usfabricsinc.com/products...FXPNOgodYXAACA
Depending on the roughness of the ground, a roll of properly anchored weed barrier might make a reasonable and portable runway.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/DEW...354?Pid=search
http://www.usfabricsinc.com/products...FXPNOgodYXAACA
Depending on the roughness of the ground, a roll of properly anchored weed barrier might make a reasonable and portable runway.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/DEW...354?Pid=search
#4

SOIL CEMENT will work great or Dirt Glue 
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3M-GVdz1xo[/media]
http://www.cement.org/pavements/pv_sc.asp
http://books.google.com/books?id=pAA...runway&f=false
DIRT GLUE
http://www.polypavement.com/
SERVICE ROADS
DRIVEWAYS
PARKING LOTS
STORAGE YARDS
LANDING STRIPS
BMX/BICYCLE TRACKS
TENNIS COURTS
GOLF CART PATHS
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS
PATIOS & PICNIC AREAS
PATHS & WALKWAYS
TRAP & BUNKER LINING
DUST PREVENTION
EROSION PREVENTION
SLOPE PROTECTION
VEGETATION PREVENTION

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3M-GVdz1xo[/media]
http://www.cement.org/pavements/pv_sc.asp
http://books.google.com/books?id=pAA...runway&f=false
DIRT GLUE
http://www.polypavement.com/
















Last edited by CHELLIE; 01-27-2013 at 08:39 AM.
#6
#7
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 152

If you want grass and it stays wet then perhaps a "raised" runway would be nice and still easy to maintain with mowers. All the lower parts are gonna be mushy of course because the high part will run off onto it , but it will dry quickly.
Is there provision for tiling the area or hauling in LOTS of "fill" first?
Is there provision for tiling the area or hauling in LOTS of "fill" first?
#8
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Eaglecreek ,oregon
Posts: 29

FYI, i live on a private residential airport with no ground services.the residents take care of all mowing and maintence,Its pretty marshy here till late spring even though were at 450 ft elevation clay based soil so bad drainage . have tried scalping grass very short but still have landing gear dammage even on light electric planes due to mouse and gopher holes ,ruts ect. trying to figure out a good long term plan for an easy to maintain runway .. the main runway is 2500 ft it has been drain tiled and had drainage piping installed but it still pretty rough for my smaller RC planes to use. don't really want to spend lots of money , but may have to to accomplish my goal here
#12
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Eaglecreek ,oregon
Posts: 29

our airport is called Eagles Nest ranch airstrip... it is a private residential 2500 ft grass field with very little traffic just the residents that live here are authorized use other than in an emergency . I currently use 3" micro lite dubro on all my lighter planes and at lease 3" rubber/foam dubro on all others
Last edited by motorhead540; 01-28-2013 at 03:42 PM. Reason: added info
#14
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 167

I have a couole planes with 2" that we fly off the gravel. If thats an option I think it would work out for you. Only issue is gravel is fairly expensive. We have a section of a field mowed as short as possible with a riding lawn motor. 2" wheels fly off the grass ok but luckily the moles havent intruded yet
#15
Super Contributor
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Ex UK Brit now in Latvia west coast - Ventspils
Posts: 12,908



It's me in the Red ....
I have friends in the port ...
Great for take-off ... but you need to be accurate for landing !
Nigel
#16
New Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 19

For about $32 you could get a 36" X 72' roll of roofing felt. If you cut it in the middle and secure the seam, you would have a 36 foot runway, 6 feet wide which would roll up for storage.

http://www.idealtruevalue.com/servlet/the-29425/Detail
http://www.idealtruevalue.com/servlet/the-29425/Detail