Sender: "Marvin Kaye" <marv@lancaironline.net>
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2004 22:10:59 -0400
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From: Dan O'Brien <danobrien@cox.net>
Subject: Runway size for first ES flight
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I was out at the airport recently where my ES will have get its fit and 
finish and **perhaps** final re-assembly.  I'm seeking opinions on the 
sensibility of doing first flight of an ES out of this airport (Potomac 
Airfield near DC), which is a pretty small strip.  The runway is only about 
2600 feet long and 40 feet wide.  However, this is an ES, which has lower 
wing loading than the IV and Legacy.  Further, there is good quality grass 
around the runway that effectively makes it much wider than 40 feet.  And 
one end has about 500 feet of good grass beyond the runway (then a fence 
and trees), while the other end has over a 1000 foot field (but a creek 
within a couple hundred feet of the end of the runway.)  So in one 
direction there is about 3100 feet before the fence, and in another there 
is over 3600 feet before trees but a 20 foot trench around the 2800 foot mark.

One experienced Lancair pilot has told me that, for the ES, this is 
sufficient.  I sense he's on the more aggressive end.  Two other 
experienced Lancair pilots said, "it could be done" but suggested moving to 
a longer strip for the first flight.  Moving, of course, is costly, but on 
the other hand, I don't want to take imprudent risks.  At the end of the 
day, the minimum runway size is one's own decision, like any other decision 
about personal minimums.  I'm not bashful about asking for the views of 
others with a lot more experience than me.  For those willing to share 
their views, what you think?

Thanks,
Dan