Portable Runways and pulling lines taught, linoleum a no, no.

[Allen Eshleman]

I read in another post by Doc Holliday that he uses a piece of carpet to take planes off.  I asked a friend who works for a flooring company if he had a piece.  He came up with a piece of linoluem, probably 10 feet long.   

Two problems

1.     It is smooth - when I pull on the lines to tighten them just before take-off, the plane slides toward me.  This has led me to believe that with asphalt and short grass, the wheels have        resistance when I tighten the lines.

2.      The linoleum has humps in it when rolled out - if the propeller doesn't have a lot of clearance,  It hits the linoleum and it's hard to take up - so we adjusted the wheel struts to raise the    planes.

I think I will try carpet when I find a piece.

Has anyone had other experiences with portable runways?   I can't haul an 4 x 8 board, maybe 2 2x6's.


       

       

[Motorman]

2x8 rubber mat.

MM 

[john e. holliday]

Yes in warm weather the carpet which was an end piece from Lowes works great on tall grass.  Mine is 3' wide and about 10' long.   By the time the plane reaches the end it has enough speed the grass doesn't bother it.  In cold weather it doesn't want to lay flat.  So I have spikes I nail it down with.   But usually don't need the carpet when the temps are down,  like late fall the grass doesn't grow much.  But I also use larger diameter wheels also.

[Larry Renger]

I made a strip from scrapped Coroplast signs. Duct tape them together so that they will "fan fold". Easy top transport and store.

[JoeJust]

Here's my "tall grass" take off ramp.  Also doubles as a European style Carrier deck.

[wwwarbird]

 How about a lawnmower?

[Scott Richlen]

Joe:

Is that an F5F?  But doesn't it crash into your boat when you take it off and it comes around the circle??