Bopeep Farm
BOPEEP FARM: Private airstrip
Note: The first three pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©. The local area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
Location: Just SE of Adderbury on the A4260. W of the M40 and about 3.5nm SSE of Banbury town centre
Period of operation: Unknown? Appears to have been used from 2005 until 2019?
Runway: 01/19 with a maximum run of 330m grass
NOTES: We have Mr Graham Frost, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for pointing out this location. He tells us that the Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six G-CSIX (ex ZS-OMX) is listed as being based here from 2005 until 2019.
It is this information that I am having some difficulty with. Mind you, I have only flown a Cherokee Six once, many years ago from Voslau in Austria from a hard runway. And, being my first flight on the type it is quite likely that my instructor advised me to approach at a much higher speed than is strictly neccessary. Plus, from memory I seem to recall that a large reduction in power during the flare resulted in a marked increase in drag.
Even so, I would not have regarded the Cherokee Six as being a short field type. This said, I cannot find any performance data relating to this type operating at a minimum weight. What I do know is that with some 300hp on tap, at minimum weight, it would accelerate like a startled fawn. So, taking off given over 300 metres is not a problem. So, what about the landing?
My experience of interfering with the controls of around sixty types, (including major variants), has certainly taught me that the differences in performance between being very light and at MTOW (Maximum Take Off Weight) can often be very significant, especially with many four-seaters. As the Cherokee Six is a six-seater I would expect these differences to be even more pronounced.
As always, if anybody can kindly offer advice and information, this will be much appreciated.
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