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Ta Daa!

garytex

By garytex

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First landing. Runway is 3/10 of a mile long by odometer, about about 525 yards, 1575' and 18' wide with 3' shoulders. There were some 20' tall mesquite trees on the approach end that made it feel really short, so we knocked them out. There are power lines another 1/10th past the departure end, and our ranch hand's house. I have slowly been increasing the weight that I take off with, now up to about 480 lbs in the cabin and still well above the power lines. For the runway to really work for me I need to cary another 160 lbs, which is gross less about 120 lbs of burned and offloaded fuel. I think it will work in the winter, not so sure about those 100df summer days. Runway incursions include Turkeys and Javelinas. Another hazard revolves around the portable shooting benches and the trailer mounted target stand that may get left out on the runway. The rest of the guys on the ranch immediately saw the runway as a multi use facility and a 4/10 mi shooting range. And the kidos are already racing golf carts and buggies. Something for everyone :-)

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From the album:

Building Runway

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Photo Information

  • Taken with Apple iPhone 4S
  • Focal Length 4.3 mm
  • Exposure Time 1/1175
  • f Aperture f/2.4
  • ISO Speed 50
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Recommended Comments

Jeev

Awesome and nice work!!!  I have always dreamed of having my own runway and house / hangar.  More pics and video of you landing / taking off would be cool!  Thanks for posting.

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N9405V

Nice!  Not sure where you are in South Texas, but you might want to let the Border Patrol know that you built a runway.  That way if you arrive some afternoon you aren't greeted by a bunches of guys in green. 

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garytex

"Nice!  Not sure where you are in South Texas, but you might want to let the Border Patrol know that you built a runway.  That way if you arrive some afternoon you aren't greeted by a bunches of guys in green."

 

I did. Called and said "Hey I am building a runway, not to smuggle drugs, but because I got a bunch of free material." They said "Thats nice.  We've been on the ground on your ranch for years, and that new aerostat baloon over there that you can barely see from your place, we got that from the Navy, the Marines used it in Afganistan, it'll do facial recognition at 17 miles.  We know you're not a drug smuggler, but thanks for calling"

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N9405V

"Nice!  Not sure where you are in South Texas, but you might want to let the Border Patrol know that you built a runway.  That way if you arrive some afternoon you aren't greeted by a bunches of guys in green."

 

I did. Called and said "Hey I am building a runway, not to smuggle drugs, but because I got a bunch of free material." They said "Thats nice.  We've been on the ground on your ranch for years, and that new aerostat baloon over there that you can barely see from your place, we got that from the Navy, the Marines used it in Afganistan, it'll do facial recognition at 17 miles.  We know you're not a drug smuggler, but thanks for calling"

That's funny! 

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Txbyker

That looks familiar. I used to land on a similar runway in Pearsal as a passenger in a twin Seneca on a hillside. It was thrilling. I buzz that area often. Enjoy. Must be great feeling.

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