JDK wrote:
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For instance operating off grass alongside a runway is better than trying to operate W.W.I types off a hard runway, but still far, far from operating them from a full period field able to handle direct into-wind operation.
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This is not only true for WW I planes, but several WWII era planes would feel a lot better at home on grass. One that obviously springs to mind is the Bf 109. A former pilot with Messerschmitt Foundation / EADS stated in an interview with an aviation magazine, that he would prefer a grass strip over concrete / macadam any time. Crosswinds are better to handle off grass. Operating off a hard runway would mean to cancel operation at all at crosswinds much weaker than off grass. And yes, those planes too were intended to start and land directly into the wind. Hard surface runways increase the chance of their notorious gear failure a lot (and the tendency to veer off the runway on take-off and landing).
Michael
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