I had one ski motor give it up, at least right now that seems to be the case, it was really slow "going to skis" on the one side when I transitioned from my concrete slab to my snow covered takeoff ramp. I was heading toward Blackfoot about 28 miles away to pick up some parts from Joel Milloway for another project and return some borrowed tools. I was hoping they had enough snow left there (1,000' lower then my place)...no such luck. So it was either turn around or land on the grass. That is what I did, getting a feel for it first, it felt OK so I made a normal slow as possible landing, the 8 or 10 mph wind right down the runway helped. The landing slide can be seen in the grass, about 3 pickup lengths, no pitch down was felt, pretty routine just short!

After concluding my business, I tried a takeoff, didn't even budge, so with a borrowed pickup and a few shovels we transferred some snow from some nearby drifts, and ended up getting sick of shoveling after we had 35' of snowpack. One unforseen complication was the truck left some tracks in the soft dirt, we smoothed them out a bit and called it good. Full power (duhh) and once off the snow I had enough speed to keep accellerating, and the takeoff was uneventfull. A good experience all in all, good for future reference. I was close to home and had plenty of backup resources if needed, and I was able to save having to drive the 40 mile one way trip versus the 28 mile straight shot, plus I got to make a dozen or so landings on the way home. All it took was about 10 minutes of shoveling snow

Hah! That's great. Good thing there was snow to shovel. I'm picturing you running into the FBO, declaring an emergency, and cleaning out their ice machine.

Now Tom, that has to be a FIRST!! Trucking in snow to take off.
Glad all went well..If I had not seen the picture I wouldn't have believed it.
HC

I should mention that I already had a pretty good handle on how the S7-S on the Datum skis acted on grass. The very first landing I made last year on skis was on a snowed in grass strip, and the last 50' or so I ran out of the snow and onto the grass, with no pitching over etc. BUT the big difference here was the grass was not frozen and rock hard like the first time, and I did not attempt a takeoff on grass the first time.

As to why it failed (the 12 VDC linear actuator), I have since determined I did good when I fused it, using two 7 amp breakers as I was supposed to, but I did bad when I wired the 2 position SINGLE switch. Obvious as hell now, but in effect I had a single 14 amp breaker. Jean from Datum instantly troubleshot the problem correctly, as he went to great lengths to insure that in a overload situation the breaker would blow way before burning the motor out, but he failed to plan on someone like me failing to properly install it all! I will of course wire in another switch like I was supposed to in the first place, the good thing is that this will give me the option, in a pinch, of using one wheel down to effect a sharper turnaround. Not sure I'll do that, but the option will be there, short of an emergency on ice I don't think I'll mess with that.

The overload was caused by some real rough transition ice at the top of my ramp, hard to describe but it made it very tough for the actuator. I had gotten lazy as both skis had always before overcome less then favorable conditions to retract/extend, but I in effect had one wheel chocked more or less. Wired correctly it would have simply blown one breaker, and I could have repositioned or simply hacked a clearer path out, re-set the breaker, and that would have been that. I have even more confidence in the skis, and a bit less in my own work, but this is a prime example of why we call them EXPERIMENTAL. A new actuator is on its way, and in the meantime I can still fly, I just need to stay off the pavement (grass is OK apparently).

By the way, I just want to make it clear, the ruts in the grass ahead of the snow patch was left by the pickup, not by me!

COOL!!! Worlds shortest runway!
WW

Good thing you weren't on floats. I wonder how long it would have taken to dig a canal and fill it with water?

That is awesome! I love the photos.

Home sweet Blackfoot! That's rad Tom. I bet you were pumped on takeoff (and landing for that matter). Nice to see Joel and Ellis-mobile doing the grunt work.

wyomingiswindy wrote:Home sweet Blackfoot! That's rad Tom. I bet you were pumped on takeoff (and landing for that matter). Nice to see Joel and Ellis-mobile doing the grunt work.

I wasn't worried, being right there at the Milloway Skunkworks, I mean where better to have problems in a S-7?! He has enough parts to take care of any problem! I think they were more concerned then I, it probably looked worse then it felt! Sort of like a dragging brake was about all, both landing and the takeoff. Now, trying it with one ski down and one up would have been really going into the unknown, this just didn't feel bad at all, remember I didn't have to land, just wanted to save the drive, and when the initial touchdown felt OK, I just continued.

I got under my panel and did indeed confirm the problem was totally my fault re the wiring on the breakers, (and I'd rather be the one to blame then the skis, I'll get over it, and my faith in the skis is better then ever), and best of all the Datum guy in Canada got on it real fast and my new actuator will be here today. Just in time for another 6" or so of fresh powder to play in, as soon as the wind dies

Crap Tom, maybe the Valdeez officials will let you put some snow down for take off - 35' is competitive. And I am sure those skis will stop you real quick on the landing...off the snow.