Grass strip at 8900 ft

[Part91]

I'm looking at buying 105 acres of land in Park County, Colorado. Its elevation is about 8500 - 8900 ft. It's rocky and hilly, but there are some clear stretches of over 1000 ft.

Is takeoff in a Kitfox with a 914 doable at that kind of altitude or should I be looking at different property?

[jiott]

The T/O ground roll alone (no allowance for obstacles) will require about 1000' at 65 F at 8000' altitude.

[aviator79]

I should be able to give you some hard data starting near the end of March. I'm at 7200' in Northern New Mexico. Right now I can only report that my 914 will make full takeoff power (39 inHg) at 7000' DA. (7200' 35 deg F). However, engine power is not the entire equation for high-altitude takeoff/climb performance. Hopefully I'll have some actual performance data soon.

[AirFox]

The Turbo should give better performance than the ULS Jim.

[Esser]

Sounds like a wicked property. To be honest you need more than 1000' at those altitudes. I'm normally they guy says go for it. But even if your engine can make rated horsepower, your wing and your prop are not as efficient.

When I was at Stick in Rudder in Idaho in a 914 powered Kitfox(Fixed pitch)we went up to a strip I think called Landmark that was around 7000' and with the DA was probably closer to 8500-9000'. It was like I was flying an entirely different plane. It easily took triple the landing and take off distance and that's if everything went well. I would say if you had no obstacles and 1500' it would be doable but maybe still not the smartest.

[jiott]

The T/O roll figure I posted is rounded off from the POH for the Kitfox SS7 SLSA w/914ul turbo. The actual printed figure is 1235' at 66F and 8000' elevation. As Esser says, engine power is only part of the issue; prop and wing performance are the other 2/3 of the equation.

[Part91]

It sounds like I’ll need to look elsewhere... or build a catapult launch system.

[NinerBikes]

STI wing, 915 Turbo, and CV prop, would be a start. 8900 ft in a year of snow pack like we are having in the Sierra's this year, is not a useful air strip for very much of the year.

[herman pahls]

I will mention this to open up options for that property and hopefully not come across arrogant.
At the former High Sierra flyin location (3 shotgun shells) we were landing on a road at approx. 9000 feet called Highboy.
We had at most 300’ to work with and the slope made the landing and take off very adequate.
A 600’ strip and less slope would work as well.
I was flying at the time a model 2 Kitfox with a 582.
Having inflight adjustable IVO prop and mixture
control gave the needed performance

[Flyboy66]

Where in Park County? I am near Bailey (9 miles northeast).

[HighWing]

Don't know if this will be helpful or not, but... Our flying group has flown into Smiley Creek (South Central Idaho) several times over the years. At the very least, it would be a good place to evaluate the specifics of the question - Airplane performance and Pilot proficiency. The runway is 8800" elevation and 5000 ft long for lots of leeway in all parameters. We flew mostly Kitfox Model IVs with the 912UL 80 horse. Always landed with runway to spare - lot of it. The first picture was taken at Smiley Creek, the second at Johnson Creek - added to show the contingent that year. Furthest away, Blue and yellow - Model IV-1200 Rotax 582. Next almost hidden Model IV-1200 Rotax 912UL. Next Rans S-6 Rotax 912ULS. Next my Model IV-1200 Rotax 912UL. Next Model IV-1200 Rotax 912UL. Closest Series V Rotax 912UL. All landed and departed Smiley Creek with ease.

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[Clark in AZ]

Interesting Lowell, nice shots. What would you say DA was? OAT and time of day taking off? Just curious.

Thanks,
Clark

[HighWing]

Clark,
Not sure - pictures taken 2002. That said, however, we always scheduled in summer and wore T-shirts and shorts. The only time we regretted that was the night at Johnson Creek when temps dropped to 20s.

[Clark in AZ]

Thanks Lowell, those are definitely on my list of places to visit. Summer in the mountains is unpredictable. :cool:
Again, thanks for posting the pics!
Clark