Posted for "Bryan J. Burr" <bjburr@mwheli.com>:

 Having recently done all of the taxi tests (low and high speed) and
 first flight I would definitely have a longer strip.  The high speed
 taxi tests used all of 7,000 feet.  My first flight resulted in a right
 hand turn the power had to be held at 17" mp.  I could be possible that
 the power could have needed to be pulled back and an immediate landing
 performed.  We had ample runway to do this.  Anything shorter would have
 been dissastrous.  Also, if you have a brake line failure then you have
 a chance of rolling to a stop.  You never know about the first flight.
 
 My dad always taught me "the sky above and the runway behind do you no
 good".
 
 Bryan
 N132BB
 Super ES with 150 hours since April04