I am opereating my new (to me) 94 Saratoga II HP from a dirt/clay/sand/grass (it is kind of a mixture of them all...) runway, 800 meters long (like 2700 feet or so), at sea level, here at South Brazil. The runway condition is preety good.
Landings, so far, are easier than take-off... I feel confortable @ 80 knots (full flaps) on short final, take all the power off when over the fence and so far faced not difficulties on stoping PT-OYW on 1800 feet or less using the brakes softly, and not touching the flaps before leaving the runway. It looks like if I would retract the flaps just after touch-down and brake more agresively, I would stop in half the runway or even less.
Taking off is another story... I am highly concerned about the weight (never exceeded 3200 pounds weight for T/O so far), about the temperature, etc.
I am using flaps 25 (as indicated in POH) and rotating @ 75 knots. MP gets to 29¨ during the T/O roll. It seems to me that the airspeed always takes a ¨quick rest¨ at around 60 knots (am I getting crazy ?) and I really do not like the way the end of the runway can be seen when I lift-off. May be I am just not used to it. I always operated smaller planes (like C172s or PA-28s) from paved,longer runways. I could not say for sure, but it looks to me I am using at least 2/3 of the runway or even a little bit more for the roll. And I am 400 pound under gross at least. What will happen at full gross ?
I saw some of you start the T/O roll without flaps (or flaps 10) and put the 25 degrees when reaching 60 knots or so. Sounds a little ¨extreme¨ to me (I am a very conservative and ¨follow the rules¨ guy...)
On a standard day, no wind, I'd expect you to get off in about 300 meters, and reach treetop height in about 450 meters. Increasing density altitude and/or weight will really cut into your performance.
Were it me, I would hold the plane with the brakes, give it full throttle and let it reach maximum static rpm. I'd then accelerate with no flaps, and delay rotation to let speed will build up well above stall speed. I'd then pop two notches of flap and rotate. After reaching treetop height, I'd retract the gear and gradually retract the flaps. I'd practice at different density altitudes with gradually increasing loads (sandbags, not family), gradually building up my comfort level. I really can't recommend any particular course of action to you, but you might consider adding a set of MicroVG's to help low speed performance.
JimC
You can't "pop the flaps" in a Saratoga II HP. That aircraft has electric flaps which crank out rather slowly. Javier should set the flaps before starting the takeoff roll. The "pop the flaps" trick is reserved for aircraft with manual (Johnson bar) flap controls that can set the flaps almost instantaneously.
Rotating at 75 knots seems fast for Saratoga short-field technique. The book on mine calls for rotation at 58-66 knots (depending on weight). Climb out at Vx (61-71 knots, also depending on weight). Additional speed just consumes runway. Accellerate in the air after you have cleared the obstacle. Yes, it is hairy to be climbing at 70 knots, but it works. Unfortunately I don't have the POH for the II HP and can't speak to the specific technique for that model.
You will find the aircraft behaves quite differently loaded vs. empty. When it's just yourself and the fuel, as soon as you rotate you're flying. With a full load there's considerable lag between rotation and liftoff. This is why the rotation speed is so low for short-field operations.
On a dirt/sand/grass runway I would NOT lock the brakes and rev up to full power before rolling. That will suck sand and gravel into the prop causing dings and erosion. Apply power gradually, reaching full power at 20 knots or so. The prop-tip vortex will be blown back and off the ground. This, of course, doesn't help short-field operations at all so one must balance a gradual roll with prop life. If space allows one can start the takeoff roll from the taxiway (or what passes for one) at 90° to the main axis of the runway. Begin accellerating during the turn onto the runway - it saves a little room.
I agree with Joe, i used to fly my friends Saratoga and 75kts does seem a tad high.
If your used to flying Pa-28s etc which I myself have, these tend to get themselves flying with little actual rotation. The Saratoga is a heavier beast and needs a bit more back pressure, of course you don't want to pull her up to early but I would certainly check your POH and aim to rotate and get it in the air around those speeds.
