Abbots Hill Farm
ABBOTS HILL FARM: Private airstrip
Note: All four of these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Operated by: Mr Nick Bloom
Location: 2nm SE of Hemel Hempstead
Period of operation: 1987 –
Runway: NW/SE 250x5 grass (dimensions can vary a bit, and it is uphill so one way in, the other way out)
Note: From 1999 it appears: 14/32 160 grass
NOTES: Nick Bloom is of course well known for his association with Pilot magazine and over the years has had based here a Piper J-3 and L.19 Cub, a SV.4C Stampe and a Tipsy Nipper, presumably G-CBCK?
I have Mr Graham Frost, a great friend of this 'Guide' to thank for pin-pointing this strip in October 2020. Graham also notes that he has found a comment that the runway has a bend in it - (the bend also used by horses). This is interesting as, when being taught to fly properly from farm strips, I was told to always use any available space available, especially for the take-off run. That could apply to starting the take-off run on a taxiway, or even, if the strip was wide enough to spin round on full-power - facing in the opposite direction!
It makes perfect sense. In marginal conditions even a five knot, let alone a ten knot advantage, when commencing a take-off will make a lot of difference to the safety margin. Given that so many light aircraft, incuding U.S. 'spam-cans', will be looking at lifting off at around 60-65 knots, this means a five to ten percent reduction in the take-off roll required.
It also gives a tad more time to satisfy yourself that the engine is indeed developing full power - a technique I have used many times over the years. Indeed, I have also noted some airline crews using the same 'rolling-start' method. The normal method used, typical of so many pilot handbook and flying school advice is to line up and apply full power against the brakes. No doubt fine if you have a long hard runway to depart from, but of course, on much, much shorter grass runways, of which we have so many in the U.K., (especially if the grass is wet - which it can be from early morning dew even in summer), it is simply good airmanship to take advantage of everything available.
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
