John Mininger Posted November 1, 2016 Report Posted November 1, 2016 This is my first post to MooneySpace. I was a partner in a Piper Archer for about 20 years and wouldn't have thought twice about this. But as a new owner of a 201, I'm a little nervous about operating out of a grass strip. We're going to be spending some time in the Fort Myers area in February 2017. Does anyone have any experience flying in and out of Airport Manatee (48X), just north of Sarasota? Is the runway smooth enough not to damage the gear door panels of a 201? Thanks
MB65E Posted November 1, 2016 Report Posted November 1, 2016 Welcome JOHN!! Congrats! Lots of grass strip guys here. Shouldn't be a problem. Make sure the preloads and rigging are correct. Baby the nose wheel a bit and you shouldn't have a problem. With the inner gear door covers- some guys take them off to prevent damage. I bounced around enough at Oshkosh this year taxing my E aroround to know that I would have Zero issues working out of a nice tended grass strip. Oshkosh south 40 is another story. You'll like it here. Stick around!! Fly Safe!! -Matt!!
gsxrpilot Posted November 1, 2016 Report Posted November 1, 2016 Just looking at the pictures, you won't have any problems there. I flew my 252 in and out of BurningMan several times this year. It was rough, but no problems with anything including the low hanging inner gear doors.
flyboy0681 Posted November 1, 2016 Report Posted November 1, 2016 Just keep in mind that the clearance from the tip of the prop to the insurance company is less than 10 inches. A good divot or bumpy pavement - let alone turf - will make you believe in God real fast. 2
Hank Posted November 1, 2016 Report Posted November 1, 2016 I just use lots of Up yoke with my C. No problems yet . . . Sporadic grass operation the last 9 years, from NC beaches to WV fields to Sun n Fun. Just be careful, be on speed and land with rhe stall horn sounding.
bonal Posted November 1, 2016 Report Posted November 1, 2016 clearance from the tip of the prop to the insurance company is less than 10 inches I like that really helps keep in proper perspective. Welcome John, good luck and enjoy your 201
WilliamR Posted November 2, 2016 Report Posted November 2, 2016 So, I grew up on 48X. My grandfather owned a maintenance shop there until the mid-90's. Tom Reeder, the owner/manager is often tending to the runway including rolling, cutting, etc. I was there about 6-8 weeks ago visiting. While there a 201 taxi'ed out and took off which looked pretty smooth. I didn't see any of the porpoiseing (not sure that's a word, but you understand) that can happen with the short wheel base of the Mooney. No catching of gear doors in grass either. Is the runway as smooth as an Augusta National fairway? No. Is it full of holes and your filings will fall out when landing? No. Btw, I flew at least 350 hours and several hundred landings there in a C model with no problems growing up. There are a few Mooneys based there also. Keeping the yoke full aft when taxiing is always a good policy even on cement unless winds are significant. Also, the runway is 3000'+ long with very minor obstacles at the West end. No short field or soft field landing techniques are required unless there's been a lot of rain recently; like a flooding rain. Hope that helps. William 2
Marauder Posted November 2, 2016 Report Posted November 2, 2016 8 hours ago, John Mininger said: This is my first post to MooneySpace. I was a partner in a Piper Archer for about 20 years and wouldn't have thought twice about this. But as a new owner of a 201, I'm a little nervous about operating out of a grass strip. We're going to be spending some time in the Fort Myers area in February 2017. Does anyone have any experience flying in and out of Airport Manatee (48X), just north of Sarasota? Is the runway smooth enough not to damage the gear door panels of a 201? Thanks John -- great to see you on MooneySpace! Did you get your ASI back yet? It was nice meeting you in Quakertown. You'll love this site. Good bunch of folks with a love for that plane with the backward tail.
BradB Posted November 2, 2016 Report Posted November 2, 2016 8 hours ago, John Mininger said: This is my first post to MooneySpace. I was a partner in a Piper Archer for about 20 years and wouldn't have thought twice about this. But as a new owner of a 201, I'm a little nervous about operating out of a grass strip. We're going to be spending some time in the Fort Myers area in February 2017. Does anyone have any experience flying in and out of Airport Manatee (48X), just north of Sarasota? Is the runway smooth enough not to damage the gear door panels of a 201? Thanks I'm headed to Ft Myers this weekend from PA. However, I'll stick to KFMY. I'm not brave enough for grass in anything but a rental. But, the guys here have much more experience than I do. Brad
John Mininger Posted November 2, 2016 Author Report Posted November 2, 2016 Thanks for the feedback, and thanks for the welcome Marauder. The 201 is up at Blackrock Aviation in Hazelton. I hope to get it back next week. I took it up there to have a JPI EDM 830 installed, the S-Tec 55 repaired, and the DME and ADF removed. The project has turned into what the military accurately refers to as: "Mission Creep". In addition: rescreened ASI (thanks for the advice), new Alpha front seat belts with shoulder harnesses, Appareo ESG ADS-B out installed, new headliner, and I'm sure there's something else that I'm not remembering at the moment. Hey what's with the fat girlfriend jokes? She didn't look fat when I met her at UKT. 1
Marauder Posted November 3, 2016 Report Posted November 3, 2016 12 hours ago, John Mininger said: Thanks for the feedback, and thanks for the welcome Marauder. The 201 is up at Blackrock Aviation in Hazelton. I hope to get it back next week. I took it up there to have a JPI EDM 830 installed, the S-Tec 55 repaired, and the DME and ADF removed. The project has turned into what the military accurately refers to as: "Mission Creep". In addition: rescreened ASI (thanks for the advice), new Alpha front seat belts with shoulder harnesses, Appareo ESG ADS-B out installed, new headliner, and I'm sure there's something else that I'm not remembering at the moment. Hey what's with the fat girlfriend jokes? She didn't look fat when I met her at UKT. Wow! You have been busy! Can't wait to see what she looks like after the updates!
FloridaMan Posted November 3, 2016 Report Posted November 3, 2016 (edited) I fly into 48X frequently and it's possible that the "201" that someone mentioned could've been my LoPresti F. I've heard it cautioned that the mooneys with inner gear doors don't like grass. I don't fly into there when it's been raining and will usually go to FMY for cheap gas and to exercise the plane. Edited November 3, 2016 by Antares
Vance Harral Posted November 3, 2016 Report Posted November 3, 2016 On 11/1/2016 at 6:31 PM, WilliamR said: Keeping the yoke full aft when taxiing is always a good policy even on cement unless winds are significant I haul back on the yoke when crossing major divots on any surface, mostly due to muscle memory from flying several different brands of nose-draggers. But I'm not sure it has much effect in a Mooney. The nose gear strut isn't an oleo like many other airplanes. The amount of tail downforce from full-aft elevator at taxi power and low speed doesn't seem like it would uncompress the nose gear shock disks much, if any. I can't say I've detected any change in attitude from the cockpit in our F model when I move the elevator around at taxi power, but maybe I'm not looking closely enough. Anyone ever actually measured this? Maybe rough surfaces in Mooneys should be treated like speed bumps in cars. Either hit 'em really slow, or really fast!
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