Re: Tom Knauff's newsletter

On Jul 1, 8:26=A0pm, "Bill Daniels" <bildan@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> Q#3: =A0Any uniform green color indicates a growing crop. =A0This could
be=

> alfalfa, corn or something else. =A0You can land in freshly cut alfalfa
or=
 hay
> but not much else. =A0Green usually means some form of irrigation which
ad=
ds
> additional hazards like sprinkler pipes. =A0Landing in a crop is likely
to=

> cause some irritation among the farm folk. =A0Dirt, if it's reasonably
smo=
oth,
> level and large enough, is always landable. =A0(Answer: C)

I agree with most of that but it may be too simple an answer. You need
to know what crop is grown in the area you are flying and how tall it
is likely to be at that particular time of year.  You also need to
know how it is watered or irrigated.   Landings in siphon irrigated
cotton fields, that are common in Arizona, can be made safely with no
crop damage if you are able to keep both wheels in the same furrow and
if the cotton is still short. On the other hand I know of a glider
that sufferered significant fuselage damage on landing in a recently
plowed field.  The dirt clods were as hard as concrete and up to a
foot across.

Of all the landouts I have made I think the best field surfaces were
mown alfapha and wheat stubble.  One of the worst was a fallow dirt
field that was so soft it was almost impossible to roll the glider to
the trailer as it sank six inches deep in powder.  Nice short landing
roll though!

So I don't know what answer Tom wanted to that question. My answer
would be to make a choice based on size, slope, surface and a
knowledge of local crop conditions.  The best choice could be either
green or brown but I'd take a look at the brown one first and hope it
had a thermal.

You can see why I don't like multiple choice tests ;)

Andy