WHAT DO WE LIKE TO SEE IN AN AIRSTRIP?

... A long, straight stretch of ground at least about 1000' long and 30' feet wide that is cleared of all stumps, brush, etc.
... Trees and brush cut down 50 feet on either side of the centerline of the strip
... A smooth surface-- undulations and bumps can quickly send a little airplane back into the air
... A clear approach, so you don't have to descend over trees right at the end of the runway
... Markers at the end of the airstrip, touchdown point, and at 25%, 50%, and 75% of the runway
... A windscock to give an indication of what the wind is doing
... A vasi board that helps the pilot know if his approach angle is correct (particularly if there are optical illusions on the approach into a strip)

Lamane, the airstrip we were just in to see is 1030 feet long and has a 2% slope for the first half of the strip and 5% slope on the last half. It had already been in use for many years, though it hasn't been used for quite a while. Just seeing the amount of work it took to get this airstrip back in shape gave me a new appreciation of what it takes to make a new airstrip! It was also really fun to see Garry figuring everything out and making great decisions for future use of that airstrip!