How to Build a Grass RC Airplane Runway

Obtain a large piece of land, preferably in a non-residential area without trees or other objects that may be inconvenient obstacles for your RC airplane. Trees and buildings are deadly for your plane to fly around and can cause serious damage to it. Since these little machines move very quickly, you will need to plan a space large enough for them to maneuver in clear view of the place you'll be standing to work the controls. An acre or two may not be sufficient unless there is a clear line of sight in all directions around your runway. A remote control plane will cover an acre in just seconds.

Measure an area at least 100 feet in length and 30 to 50 feet in width to prepare your runway. Some planes can get off the ground very quickly, but you may need a bit more area for landing since it is the most challenging part of flying an RC plane. You can certainly make the runway longer and wider, but do not try to build a strip with much smaller dimensions or you may have trouble bringing the plane in safely.

Mow the designated runway area very short. Smaller RC airplanes may have a difficult time getting up to speed or rolling at all in thick grass. If possible, cut your runway's grass down as flat as a golf course putting green. The shorter the grass and the smoother the surface, the easier it will be for your airplane to taxi for takeoff and to land smoothly without the increased risk of toppling over and getting damaged.

Mark the boundaries of your runway clearly with flags or other objects so that the smooth, cut area is easy to recognize. When you bring the plane in for landing, you should able to make a quick glance and easily see where you need to line up the approach.