SkyLarkin wrote:

CessnaDriverMichael wrote:Hey folks,

Wondering if anybody is running the stock earlier soft gear legs on their a or b-model 170s with straight skis... If so pics please interested in seeing what the deck angle and prop clearance looks like. Thanks.

Here is a short video showing my 170 on skis. It is a "52" with the soft gear and a DM8042 prop. The video is not really that great except to show the skis and stance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrcXENznPsc

SkyLarkin thank you for responding to my question!! Very helpful seeing your setup. I see you are in Trapper Creek. I am in TKA during the summer and am bringing my 52 b-model up there with me this summer. Have you been up in the AK-range with that thing? Can our puny early-model gearlegs withstand a glacial lashing??

Anybody else have soft-gear setups?? Skylarkin's looks just fine for prop clearance from what I can see...

I doubt that prop clearance would be an issue with stock 170 gear legs. The bigger issue with those legs is the "waddle" as the plane moves over uneven surfaces.....and there are plenty of those in ski flying.

Another point: if you haven't added a windshield V Brace, you should do so prior to getting into any serious ski flying. When I first ran my 170 on skis, I was seriously concerned the windshield would pop out. The V Brace really stiffens that area and the wing flex.

MTV

mtv wrote:I doubt that prop clearance would be an issue with stock 170 gear legs. The bigger issue with those legs is the "waddle" as the plane moves over uneven surfaces.....and there are plenty of those in ski flying.

Another point: if you haven't added a windshield V Brace, you should do so prior to getting into any serious ski flying. When I first ran my 170 on skis, I was seriously concerned the windshield would pop out. The V Brace really stiffens that area and the wing flex.

MTV

Thanks for the comment MTV. Good point regarding the v-brace. I'll talk that into consideration.

I'm curious do you consider the waddling a problem because you think its possible to lose directional control on a very hummocky surface? Is it the possibility of dragging a wing?

I'm working to gather a general consensus... It seems like ski, particularly glacier, flying with the original gear legs is not a hard-no while I save for the 180 legs? It just requires some extra considerations? It'd be great if the 180 legs were not part of the initial cost of 170 skiing rather than just a very nice thing to have...

Thanks folks!

[/quote]


SkyLarkin thank you for responding to my question!! Very helpful seeing your setup. I see it says you are in Trapper Creek. I am TKA-based during the summer and am bringing my 52 b-model up there with me this summer. Have you been up in the AK-range with that thing? Can our puny early-model gearlegs withstand a glacial lashing??

Anybody else have soft-gear setups?? Skylarkin's looks just fine for prop clearance from what I can see...[/quote]


Glad to help out CDM. I live about 15 mile north west of the Talkeetna airport directly across the highway from the North Gravel Pits. I built a 1700' strip and registered it with the FAA with an identifier of 8AK5. The south half is gravel and the north half is some what smooth dirt that I am slowly replacing with gravel. Maybe you can fly in sometime?

I am replacing my current gear legs with Lady Legs during the annual next month and I'll take some measurements/photos before and after. I decided the 180 gears legs might be too stiff since I have the c145 and fixed pitch and thought the Lady Legs were a good step up from what I have. Some guys like the soft gear as it is suppose to be more forgiving or so I hear.

I am too new to ski flying to give advice on glacier landings put it is high on my list. I do have a lot of experience riding snow machines on glaciers and have even ridden up through the Great Gorge and to the North Fork in the Ruth Amphitheater so I'll be relying mostly on those experiences to guide the way. Late March through the end of April seems to be the window of opportunity for strait skis. Any earlier and the snow on the glacier might not be set up and any later my strip will be melted off. I've been thinking of wheel skis for early summer glacier landing but more dreaming than anything else.

CessnaDriverMichael wrote:

mtv wrote:I doubt that prop clearance would be an issue with stock 170 gear legs. The bigger issue with those legs is the "waddle" as the plane moves over uneven surfaces.....and there are plenty of those in ski flying.

Another point: if you haven't added a windshield V Brace, you should do so prior to getting into any serious ski flying. When I first ran my 170 on skis, I was seriously concerned the windshield would pop out. The V Brace really stiffens that area and the wing flex.

MTV

Thanks for the comment MTV. Good point regarding the v-brace. I'll talk that into consideration.

I'm curious do you consider the waddling a problem because you think its possible to lose directional control on a very hummocky surface? Is it the possibility of dragging a wing? At work one of the birds I fly is a 185 with titanium gear which is quite a bit softer than the spring steel. It bends and splays but never gives up, although we do watch the wingtips sometimes when moving through hard-packed stuff or frozen slush with ski tracks in it...

I'm working to gather a general consensus... It seems like ski, particularly glacier, flying with the original gear legs is not a hard-no-no while I save for the 180 legs? It just requires some extra considerations? It'd be great if the 180 legs were not part of the initial cost of 170 skiing rather than just a very nice thing to have...

Thanks folks!

No, the thing that spooked me about all that movement was that one part of the plane was moving one direction, while another part was going different direction. My comment about the windshield coming out was serious, but also, there is a lot of shear forces placed on rivets and skins. The V Brace stabilized the top deck of the plane and seriously stiffened the structure.

I have nothing to prove all that movement was bad, but it couldn't be good, and had to be a reason Cessna made the V Brace standard in later plane's.

MTV

mtv wrote:

CessnaDriverMichael wrote:

mtv wrote:I doubt that prop clearance would be an issue with stock 170 gear legs. The bigger issue with those legs is the "waddle" as the plane moves over uneven surfaces.....and there are plenty of those in ski flying.

Another point: if you haven't added a windshield V Brace, you should do so prior to getting into any serious ski flying. When I first ran my 170 on skis, I was seriously concerned the windshield would pop out. The V Brace really stiffens that area and the wing flex.

MTV

Thanks for the comment MTV. Good point regarding the v-brace. I'll talk that into consideration.

I'm curious do you consider the waddling a problem because you think its possible to lose directional control on a very hummocky surface? Is it the possibility of dragging a wing? At work one of the birds I fly is a 185 with titanium gear which is quite a bit softer than the spring steel. It bends and splays but never gives up, although we do watch the wingtips sometimes when moving through hard-packed stuff or frozen slush with ski tracks in it...

I'm working to gather a general consensus... It seems like ski, particularly glacier, flying with the original gear legs is not a hard-no-no while I save for the 180 legs? It just requires some extra considerations? It'd be great if the 180 legs were not part of the initial cost of 170 skiing rather than just a very nice thing to have...

Thanks folks!

No, the thing that spooked me about all that movement was that one part of the plane was moving one direction, while another part was going different direction. My comment about the windshield coming out was serious, but also, there is a lot of shear forces placed on rivets and skins. The V Brace stabilized the top deck of the plane and seriously stiffened the structure.

I have nothing to prove all that movement was bad, but it couldn't be good, and had to be a reason Cessna made the V Brace standard in later plane's.

MTV

Good point regarding all the wobbling of the gear legs and their ability to put strong forces on the fuselage. I'll have to keep an eye on that and see what it looks like on the snow.

Skylarkin I am familiar with your strip. I'll have to arrange a time to drop in and say hello at some point this summer. Thanks for the info. Snowmachining up the great gorge and into the north fork must be quite an experience.

Here is my 1952 C170b Std. gear, and Airglas 2500 skis... The skis perform well.

Very pretty airplane Architect1!
Would love to see more pictures and video.

Very nice! I see Sportsman and VG's. What prop?

Architect1 wrote:

Here is my 1952 C170b Std. gear, and Airglas 2500 skis... The skis perform well.

Beeeeee- You - Tee - Full !!!!!

Use the DM7651 "climb Prop" on skis and for higher DA.

OSH Skiplane Flyin a few years ago

Awesome!!!!