DH82EH wrote:
Hey folks.
My friend and I are seriously considering bringing our Tiger Moth for the 100th anniversary of the RAF.
A big consideration for us is our requirement to land on grass. (no brakes / tail skid).
Would any of you know who we would have to contact to be able to accommodate this? (maybe land at the pioneer strip?).
Thanks for any thoughts or inputs.
Andy
Don't hold your breath on that. A lot of people in the Vintage Division have been pushing them for a grass runway for years with no luck. They did have one laid out at the far south end of the airport for a couple of years around 2010, but apparently the FAA didn't like it so it went away. They did have an area to operate the WW1 aircraft in 2016 but it was only for them, all trucked in. and only for a short period of display flying each day. Presumably they'll have something similar this year, but I doubt they will allow it for arriving aircraft. You can always ask I guess, if you can find someone to ask.
The ultralight strip can be used if you get special permission, and they have been good about that, you need to call whoever is in charge of ops there. I don't remember how we came up with the name and number, but she was very accommodating. They prefer that you don't arrive in normal hours when they're very busy. We overnighted at Hartford, Wisconsin, about 40 miles south, got up at the crack of dawn, and arrived just as the UL strip opened, and they waited for us. It is only about 1,300 feet long, and if you land to the southeast you come in over trees and buildings, and especially if there's much of a crosswind from the right, over the trees, and you want a few extra mph, it can be a squeeze, especially with no brakes and a tailskid.
Pioneer Field is closed to aircraft during Airventure, used for helicopter rides. I have landed there a couple of times well before Airventure, then you can tow the airplane over to the main display area, but that of course means flying there a couple of weeks early, going home, and coming back again for the show. And again special permission needed. We did that with the Pitcairn Autogiro in 2009.
I would recommend contacting Jim Busha or Hal Bryan and asking the question. If you can't find their e-mails on the EAA website let me know and I can come up with them.
Also, as far as airstrips enroute with grass runways and gas, Joliet, Illinois is a good one, Brodhead, Wisconsin is not to be missed (many based antiques), and Hartford has a grass cross runway and you can land on the north side of the paved runway.
-