Runway Construction
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On December 2, 2004, the club installed its first hard surface runway. In preparation, seventeen truck loads of granite gravel were added in late November to remove irregularities. This was graded into place by club members, then dragged and rolled to provide an optimum surface. A woven fabric geotextile material was utilized to provide the surfacing material. This is a product commonly used as an under layment for asphalt roads. It is available in rolls fifteen feet wide and three hundred feet in length. The material is porous to water. The result was a runway approximately 425 feet long and forty-four feet wide.
The project was accomplished with volunteer labor on the part of club members, twenty-two of whom participated. The geotextile fabric was fastened to the ground with wire staples, eight inches in length. Two of the club’s members designed and fabricated three mechanical staple drivers. Workers also used rubber mallets for driving staples which were placed approximately six inches apart around the perimeter of each geotextile panel.
One member donated the use of his tractor with a bucket attachment. Another devised a tool for insertion into the center tube of the Geotextile fabric rolls which facilitated lifting and transporting with the tractor. Without the tractor, the job would have been much more difficult. The club’s civil engineer, had previously staked out the new runway’s perimeter. A string was pulled into place defining the westernmost edge of the runway, and the project was accomplished with volunteer labor on the part of club members twenty-two of whom participated. The geotextile fabric was fastened to the ground with wire staples, eight inches in length.
Two of the club’s members designed and fabricated four mechanical staple drivers. Workers also used rubber mallets for driving staples which were placed approximately six inches apart around the perimeter of each geotextile panel the first roll of material was rolled out from north to south, then stretched to remove wrinkles as much as possible. Members then commenced driving staples. As soon as the first run of material was fastened down, a second run was placed with a six inch overlap on the first. This was followed up with a third run similarly placed, this forming the easternmost panel.
Work started at approximately 8:30 AM. Weather conditions were cool, in the fifty to sixty degree range. Skies were partly cloudy. Work was suspended at noon for a one hour lunch break. The job was complete at 3:00 PM, at which time club President Joel Green declared the new runway ready for use. Member Ed Bullock finalized inaugural proceedings by taking off and successfully landing a model aircraft before an enthusiastic audience of tired, but happy, club members.
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