Runway Slope/Gradient

Most wartime raf airfields seem to be built on a hump and from the threshold you cannot see the end. Turweston starts on a slope up and then drops down a long way. Dale also rises and falls. With Netheravon an old WW1 grass Field the Dakotas reckoned they took off twice due to the runway dipping in the middle. Tarrant Rushton rises up and has a few dips and bumps.

Desborough has a huge hump as well as you certainly can't see from one side to the other.

I dont think there can be any runway which is flat. And certainly in the days of the cold war RAF runways did have chain marks on the, it was for the ADR(air field damage repair) Sappers. Basically the helicopters used for post attack recce would say what size the crater was and give it with reference to chain markings.

Eastmoor is probably one of the 'humpiest' runways I can think of.......... mind u plotting a route on memory map down the main runway only gives a descent of 26ft from north to south which dosent sound too bad, but it always looked a lot worse than that!

canberra;49953 wrote:

And certainly in the days of the cold war RAF runways did have chain marks on the, it was for the ADR(air field damage repair) Sappers. Basically the helicopters used for post attack recce would say what size the crater was and give it with reference to chain markings.

We still use miles and chains on the Railway and in our Sectional Appendixes (map books). Although they're a very old concept, a 22 yard measure is good amount for when you're "out on the ground" looking for a feature.

What's 22 yards look like ? Well, most people can visualise a cricket pitch !

And on the subject of cricket pitches, Lords is famous for its slope!

Hi
They did not "shave" the most famous hump of all, main runway Biggin Hill.

Was at the time and still is called the "hump"

Regards Robert.H

For those who want to be accurate, a properly used optical theodolite with surveyor's staff will give a resolution down to centimeters (or inches - depending on one's religion!). The fancy laser theodolites are probably even more accurate.
But if anybody wants to check out runway Slope/Gradient for themselves from the comfort of their own Idiot's Lantern there is wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm?l . Use the combination of OS+Satellite. At the bottom of the OS side is a clickable device which will give the various heights over a straight line. Quite a smart program!
HTH
Resmoroh

An interesting program Resmoroh - not convinced about the accuracy. Wonder how others get on

Graham

After spending way too much time playing with wheresThePath, I looked at many airfields. Thank you for finding a new toy to play with.

Richard

www.atlantikwall.co.uk