chrispratt
Well Known Member
Sometimes an idea is so elegant in its simplicity that it is beyond my ability to think of it. So I'll credit a friend of mine with this idea -- I think it will work and I plan to have it as an option should this year's Airventure become another splash-in.
I was discussing Slosh-kosh 2010 with this friend. I mentioned that because of the rain and soft ground I'd brought along a couple of boards I had quickly cut to slip under the wheels to prevent my RV-8 from settling into the soft turf in the parking area. They worked but were cumbersome and required some help to line them up and rock the plane into place. Luckily, mine were thick enough that they held. Other people near me also brought boards but not heavy enough and they broke under the weight of the plane.
So my friend said, why don't you just buy some plastic splash blocks like you use around the house under the rain gutter downspouts. Huh?? That's brilliant, I said. But will they hold the aircraft's weight without buckling and allow clearance for the wheel pants? Only way to find out was to buy some and try.
So my weekend project was to stop by Lowe's, pick up two polyvinyl splash blocks (I prefer green to match the grass) and roll the airplane on to them. In the hangar, at least, the blocks held up fine (aircraft was almost full fuel). The aircraft rolled easily into the blocks.
I thought it would be best to place the "tall" side of the ramp at back so that at departure you could simply roll the airplane forward and straight out to the departure line. Click link below for more photos.
https://picasaweb.google.com/pratt....rtForSoftGround?authkey=Gv1sRgCNbniufexJj2Yg#
Admittedly I have not put this idea to a real world test, i.e. wet ground at an event. I'm still wondering if the footprint of the block will be wide enough to keep from settling.
So it's still in test, but I thought it might be a helpful idea for anyone who camps out a lot and runs in to this situation. The splash blocks are very light and easily fit in the forward baggage compartment of my -8. They cost about $8 each. So, it's worth a shot. No guarantees.
I guess you can tell I'm already thinking about Oshkosh. Hope to see you there.
Chris
I was discussing Slosh-kosh 2010 with this friend. I mentioned that because of the rain and soft ground I'd brought along a couple of boards I had quickly cut to slip under the wheels to prevent my RV-8 from settling into the soft turf in the parking area. They worked but were cumbersome and required some help to line them up and rock the plane into place. Luckily, mine were thick enough that they held. Other people near me also brought boards but not heavy enough and they broke under the weight of the plane.
So my friend said, why don't you just buy some plastic splash blocks like you use around the house under the rain gutter downspouts. Huh?? That's brilliant, I said. But will they hold the aircraft's weight without buckling and allow clearance for the wheel pants? Only way to find out was to buy some and try.
So my weekend project was to stop by Lowe's, pick up two polyvinyl splash blocks (I prefer green to match the grass) and roll the airplane on to them. In the hangar, at least, the blocks held up fine (aircraft was almost full fuel). The aircraft rolled easily into the blocks.
I thought it would be best to place the "tall" side of the ramp at back so that at departure you could simply roll the airplane forward and straight out to the departure line. Click link below for more photos.
https://picasaweb.google.com/pratt....rtForSoftGround?authkey=Gv1sRgCNbniufexJj2Yg#
Admittedly I have not put this idea to a real world test, i.e. wet ground at an event. I'm still wondering if the footprint of the block will be wide enough to keep from settling.
So it's still in test, but I thought it might be a helpful idea for anyone who camps out a lot and runs in to this situation. The splash blocks are very light and easily fit in the forward baggage compartment of my -8. They cost about $8 each. So, it's worth a shot. No guarantees.
I guess you can tell I'm already thinking about Oshkosh. Hope to see you there.
Chris
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