The Cessna 120-140 Association Forum

what techniques do u use ? runway is grass/dirt and 1400ft long/ will be only pilot and 1/2 fuel thanks, John Patton, Mancos, CO.

Any obstacles? I would go full power on the brakes, as soon as you release full forward on the yoke, try to get on the mains as soon as possible. Build as much speed as able then send it.

I don’t have flaps on mine, so not sure the best move there.

johnpatton wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2020 5:49 pm what techniques do u use ? runway is grass/dirt and 1400ft long/ will be only pilot and 1/2 fuel thanks, John Patton, Mancos, CO.

Cool morning flights will give you the best performance over those when the temperature is warmer during the day. Big thing to remember here is that density altitude is not your friend. Fly in the cooler parts of the day. Have you looked at the takeoff performance data for your aircraft in your owner's handbook? It's good preflight procedure to always know the distance required before you go (FAR 91.103).

On dirt runways, I never run the engine up to full power while holding the brakes. Doing so invites possible damage to the propeller leading edges. Instead hold brakes and start adding power then release brakes while continuing to add full throttle in order to minimize possible prop leading edge damage. I'd recommend using a normal takeoff procedure in a tail low attitude(with the tail wheel just off the ground) as the aircraft accelerates. When the aircraft takes off hold it in ground effect until the indicated airspeed reaches best angle of climb speed(Vx) which is the slowest and safest airspeed to climb out of ground effect. Let the aircraft accelerate to best rate while climbing and make a normal departure.

A good read written by the man himself, answers many questions that you never even knew you had.

https://airfactsjournal.com/2019/04/fro ... 4G-h-GbjqA

8376 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 22, 2020 11:10 am A good read written by the man himself, answers many questions that you never even knew you had.

https://airfactsjournal.com/2019/04/fro ... 4G-h-GbjqA

Ole Wolfgang, I still have an issue of his book Stick & Rudder that I've had for over 40 years.

Thanks for posting Wolfgang’s article from airfacts, I had not seen it. Stick and rudder should be in every pilots library of course.