GEO TEXTILE RUNWAY ----perhaps for PLF?

[retiredVTT]

The May 2014 MAAC mag has some very interesting info from two Clubs that have put down a geo textile material as a runway for smaller RC aircraft. The article starts on page 21 and continues on page 71.

We have been discussing this type of runway surface for PLF, so this info might assist us greatly.

As usual there are different grades of this material which affects overall cost. The first club did a 36' wide by 150' long area for around $2300.00 while the second club used a material that was 1/3rd the cost.

Here are the specs of the material used by Club #1..

GTF 400E

Classification Monofilament
Grab Tensile 370/250 lbs
WWT Ultimate 2700/1740 lbs/in
Trapezoid Tear 100/60 lbs
CBR Puncture 950 lbs
UV Stability 90 % @ 500 hrs
Permittivity 0.280 sec-1
Water Flow Rate 18 gpm/ft²
Apparent Opening Size #70 US SIEVE
Roll Width 12 ft
Roll Area 400 yd²
Roll Length 300 ft
Roll Weight 193 lbs

As you can see the material is similar to landscape underlay that we are familiar with....but heavier and has a 12 foot width and 300 foot length per roll with a weight of nearly 200 lbs per roll.

Have a look at the article as it has some great info on how to install the edges of the material so that high winds do not lift it.

Much discussion would have to take place prior to us proceeding with a venture like this. Of course the first thing would be the owners permission, followed by overall cost. A major concern of mine would be how susceptible would this material be to damage from vandals by driving on it, etc.

For now it was just refreshing to see that this has been a successful venture by other modellers.


Bill

[retiredVTT]

Here is a link to pictures of a GeoTek field created by the Sun Parlor RC Flyers..

http://imageevent.com/sunparlorflyers/g ... l1.camel_s


Bill

[retiredVTT]

Found some info related to other Clubs that have installed this material for runways...

http://www.usfabricsinc.com/products/rc ... geotextile


Bill

[retiredVTT]

I found this 2012 quote from a Club in Ontario.....
Bill


Re: New Geotextile Runway
The later photos show the surface after most the wrinkles were gone (they are all gone now). We used one roll (15'x300') cut in half to have a 150' x 30' runway. About 1500 6' staples and about 75 12" staples were used. Total cost of the project was about $1250.00

This is the product we used:
http://www.usfabricsinc.com/reference/e ... eotextiles

We bought ours from a local company called "Underground Specialties"
It is one of the more expensive products but is more UV stable and stronger. The same product is availabe from a number of different companies. We visited a club in Michigan who had the same material down for 7 years and still looked good. Some clubs use a unwoven product called Petromat that cost less but is not as strong and have positive results. We had one of the largest turnouts for a work party in our clubs history (more than 30 guys) and had in down in about 1 1/2 hours.

It is interesting that a company is using the same product for some large UAV landing strips.

[retiredVTT]

..more info here and a "how to do it"....

http://www.laaeromodelers.org/laaero_ge ... y_v14.html


Bill

[retiredVTT]

Received this info today from a supplier in Toronto....

Nilex woven 2006 >>> $365/roll (15' x 300'...spec sheet attached)
box of 6" staples (1000/box) >>> $40/box
delivery to Halifax >>> $175
HST extra.

So you would be looking at about $700.00 in material to create a runway 150 ft x 30 ft with a large amount of sweat equity ..!
Another $300.00 perhaps to prepare and grade a hard base, so $1,000. would be a probable total.
Based on a life of at least 5 years, with little maintenance, the project might be quite reasonable.


Bill

[LordGarak]

Maybe we can crowd fund it. I'd put up $50 towards a textile runway.

Maybe do it as a kickstarter so if we don't reach the goal everyone just gets refunded.