Longford
LONGFORD: Private airstrip
Note: All four of these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Location: Just N and roughly parallel to the A53, 2nm WSW of Market Drayton town centre
Period of operation: 1990s (?) to -
Runway: 05/23 380 grass
Note: Possibly extended to 420 metres around 2015?
NOTES:
The initial information regarding this site came from the AAIB report: EW/C2016/05/01.
After making this listing several years ago I made this comment: "Having looked at Google Earth I have failed to locate this airstrip, although several potential sites are visible. If anybody can offer advice, this will be much appreciated." In late December 2020 Paul Bagnall kindly came up with the answer - see 'Comment' below.
So easy of course to see this strip when you know exactly where to look! Pictures were then added.
SOMETHING TO PONDER?
The report highlights the fact that since 1994 fifteen Rans S6 types have been involved in serious accidents, four with fatal consequences, and all appearing to be the result of the aircraft stalling and in most if not all cases either entering a spin or in the process of doing so. I find this set of circumstances very difficult to understand.
Having flown the type, just once in Spain, I found it exceptionally easy to fly. It is so draggy that you keep the power on all the way down to the flare for landing, maintaining the same speed throughout a circuit for example. Once power is reduced it pretty much plonks itself down very quickly - the only pilot action needed is to pull the stick back to cushion the landing.
After shutting down after three circuits my instructor/safety pilot said; "Look - it has flaps." But why I asked, they're not needed.
What I do not understand, as any Tiger Moth pilot will tell you for example, is that if the 'donkey' fails anywhere near the ground, the field you'll land in is the field below you. In other words, with very draggy light aircraft, a very nose down attitude is instantly required to maintain airspeed. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I think this is all that needs to be remembered, and, at the very last stage, then reduce airspeed to alleviate the impact speed, which, should be so slow that survival is pretty much assurred in most cases.
Paul Bagnall
This comment was written on: 2020-12-28 04:29:50I can certainly help you locate it on Google maps. Go to the west tip of Market Drayton where muller dairy is, keep heading west for half a mile along the A53 and its attached to the farm running parallel to the road
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
