Playing in the grass...eeyy and mudd in the Mooney

[piperpainter]

So Its been a long time since i'd been up to Medical springs to see the family well  I called them up and after talking about a few options for places to fly into they made a comment about making a landing strip in the field above the house. When I was younger it was tall alfalfa but now it was just short grass and a fairy smooth, yet wavy piece of land. So I told them what I needed and they made me a landing strip. Here are some cool pictures (well if you ask me they are) of my adventure. Its a nice 1800-1900ft strip at 3600MSL. Of course I didn't need but maybe 1000ft of it since I was lightweight . oh and I sure did spook a calf on the way out!  Don't doubt our Mooney's capibilites!

[Guest Anonymous]

New paint job -- and mud!

You are one sick puppy, Bryan.

RFB

 

[carusoam]

You Go Bryan!!!

 

You have some of the most spectacular landing spots in your photo gallery...

 

-a-

[Bob]

Bryan,

Are you a CFI?.....Know what, It does not matter.  I would love to fly with you!  Your youtubes are great.

[ErickR]

Quote: ILXLR8

Bryan,

Are you a CFI?.....Know what, It does not matter.  I would love to fly with you!  Your youtubes are great.

[Jeff_S]

Very nice. That's one thing that bothers me about my J. Not that I can't fly into grass strips, but everything I've heard suggests it's not the best idea. There are a few fun grass strips that I used to love taking my Warrior into around here. Does anybody regularly fly a J or later model into grass strips? Any stories to tell, good, bad or otherwise?

[piperpainter]

Well if you want a list of the strips i've taken my C model into I'll give you the list. I promise you'll pe shocked with all the places. I wish someone would stop spreading the rumor that Mooney's shouldn't go into grass strips. I've compared my prop tip clearance to other planes that fly in the backcountry and into grass strips and really its not that much of a difference. Maybe an inch or 3. You just have to be careful! Happy flying

[DaV8or]

Quote: Jeff_S

Very nice. That's one thing that bothers me about my J. Not that I can't fly into grass strips, but everything I've heard suggests it's not the best idea. There are a few fun grass strips that I used to love taking my Warrior into around here. Does anybody regularly fly a J or later model into grass strips? Any stories to tell, good, bad or otherwise?

[piperpainter]

Quote: DaV8or

I have no experience, but on the face of it I would say the inner gear doors on the J that the early models don't have might take a punishing.

[Stefanovm]

I am flying a '65 E. I live and keep it on a grass strip. The only two items I worry about are my very rough taxiway and after rain some places get too soggy to support the weight. I stuck it in a taxi area that looked acceptable the second day after I got it home. Six helpers on the wings helped me to push it out.  It would have been impossible to do by myself. The tire and gear cleaning took several hours. I am careful where I taxi now and it can stay in the hanger for a couple of days after severe rains. I have a Top Prop conversion with a good deal of ground clearance. The photos below are during time previous to Mooney, which is why the C152 is featured. I have been too busy flying to take photos at home. We have some from the 10+ hours this weekend, but they are from air away from home and still on the camera.

[Amelia]

Some of my favorite A&Ps have a lovely 4000 foot grass strip in front of their hangar a few dozen miles south of here. Thanks to their excellent care of it, and possibly the constant pounding of their heavy ag planes, it's smooth as a pool table, and there's just no sweeter landing.  I confess, I wouldn't trust my 231 on an unimproved patch of pasture, though.