How to kill grass bugs RAF Style

[Chef_uk]

I'm a keen aviation enthusiast and last week went over to RAF Coningsby for the first time this year which happened to be the same month as last year. when I got there I noticed something peculiar with their grass. Can you tell the difference? (sorry for the dustspots, unedited pics)

(2010 on the left, 2011 on the right)


Their grass was a breeding ground for bugs which the birds were then growing in numbers to enjoy them. After a few birdstrikes in the past they decided to cull the lot. Dramatic huh

[Hillwalker]

Hi Daniel,

We were over last a couple of weeks ago and had a shock when we saw the grass. I thought it'd been sprayed so they wouldn't have to cut it, in line with the RAF's financial cut backs, until I read the reason on FC. I hope it grows back as soon as possible, it looks very barren and ugly.

...sorry for the dustspots...

Do you mean the massive one under the 2nd Typhoon?

[Chef_uk]

hehe

Will it grow back then? Didn't think it would have survived?

[Hillwalker]

The grass there is definitely a goner. I'm hoping the base will have it reseeded in the autumn or next spring.

[piskieinboots]

I just asked Snowdrop his view (30 years and still counting in RAF) of this - he says it is highly unlikely that the Air Force will have 'got rid' of the grass.

He feels it is more likely down to Ground Maintainance (notice I didn't say gardeners!) cutting it far too harshly and what with the lack of water we are seeing - we know what happens to grass with that combo.

Ground Maintainance has been sub-contracted out for many years.

A few jolly good downpours would, hopefully, see it returning.

[Two_Sheds]

Those grass bugs would be chafer grubs, which the crows like to dig up. Our school's footy pitch is a right mess from them.

Crows don't fly far or high though, so I wouldn't have thought they'd cause a bird-strike episode

[Glutton4...]

...He feels it is more likely down to Ground Maintainance (notice I didn't say gardeners!) cutting it far too harshly and what with the lack of water we are seeing - we know what happens to grass with that combo.

Ground Maintainance has been sub-contracted out for many years...

...and from experience, I can tell you, if they are contracted to cut it, then cut it, they will. There is no common sense applied as to the cutting requirements...

[piskieinboots]

...and from experience, I can tell you, if they are contracted to cut it, then cut it, they will. There is no common sense applied as to the cutting requirements...

totally agree!!

I've been married to Snowdrop and living in MQs since 1993 - the GMs have never improved, never use common sense AND ALWAYS make a sodding mess!!

I have put pots around my front patch so they can't cut mine - maybe they (RAF) should have done that around the planes

[King Carrot]

Why did I immediately think they'd be using some sort of Napalm or Bunker Buster and it might be a good idea to save for future use

[Hillwalker]

Sorry grapes, you're wrong. The grass has been sprayed to kill whatever is living there. Chef uk and I are also members of a couple of aviation forums and are both aware of what's happened and the reason for it: Birds are a controllable problem for our remaining air bases, but were becoming a major headache at RAF Coningsby due to, as Two Sheds said, chafer grubs. The last thing any plane wants, especially front line jets, is a bird strike. Or as Eddie Izzard once said, engine suck - Which is probably more correct.

By the way, the narrow grass strips around the perimeter fence, which are subject to the same weather and maintenance conditions as the dessicated taxi and runway areas, is nice and naturally green.

[Chef_uk]

A different type of grass seed is now going down. Will be interesting to see how quickly it comes up

[BigShot]

Whatever happened to falconry at airfields?
Send up bird of prey, prey species scarper, plane lands in safety.

I know some commercial fields do it.