Dang, these S-7 guys are multiplying. Hey Mike!

Emmet

Em
He's multi-tasking. He's got a pretty cool Kitfox too.
That's just wrong
I'm bettin there is gonna be some skiis in your future.????

Wait, Mike Wiley (Maine) has a Kitfox too?? Or are we talking Mike of Summit Ski's? Or are we talking about newkid who really does have an S7 and a Kitfox. Either way, we need another plane Gary. With Skis. And a Skizee. And Margs. Hows that for thread confusion.

Ok not looked at the thread for a while but Mike in Maine (me) has two S-7s but no Kitfox. The confusion might be the several videos I did of my friend Bill Chenoweth and his Kitfox!! Skis are off for the Summer, but summer decided not to show so far!


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I'm into my second season now with my Datum 2500's on the PA-12. I really like the ease of installation/removal since there are no hydraulics and it takes all of 10-seconds to unplug 'em. Ground clearance is certainly adequate, though it takes a bit of fiddling to get the cables just right for maximum effect. I rigged them with only a degree or two of up-angle relative to the wing, and they don't seem to slow me down noticeably more than wheels alone.

Having recently flown some Datum Skis on an Exp Cub, thought this thread deserves proping
back up. With some food for thought anyone consirning new skis. Having extensive experence flying skis on lots of different aircraft to include Beavers, 185/180's, Maules,
Cubs/Cruisers and Champ/Citabrias on straight skis, penetrations, and wheel skis. I was pleasently surprised with the performance of Datum skis. For starters they are a good sized ski even in the 2000 Model.
These measure 65" long by 17.5" wide in the front back to the axle; then flare out to 23" in the back across the UHMW. So the 2000s are BIG skis; but still slightly smaller than the Ultralight model Summits. (22"x71" but they only have 'one tail') The total sq inches on the snow is probably very close. They are extreamely lightweight at 33lbs each. Compared to most all other wheelskis.
Again not as light as the 28lb Summits,(carbon fiber) because of the Datums all fiberglass design. They do NOT have the age old problem of piling wet or cornmealy snow up ontop of the ski like any penetration ski will, and ZERO tire drag, as it is NOT in the snow. A huge factor in tough conditions. The Datum ski has some interesting features that may NOT be known to many on here?
There has been a bit of consirn on other forums, that Datums require a 6:00x6 tire, and the loss of angle of attack on wheels? And that is actual true, as they net you an 8.5" axle height on wheels( or about the same as most straight skis) where as Summits on 8:50 would net you 2" more height "on wheels". All that changes, when the tire is pulled up ontop of the skis pedestal pad; the Datums will now measure almost 12" of axle height giving an impressive AOA. Where it really counts "In the Snow"
Another factor ;you wont hear alot about, is the simple fact the tire now becomes a "cushion" between the landing gear and the ski? They ride noticeably "softer" in rough stuff than ANY ski, hooked directly to the axles! Thats gotta be good thing for the airframe. The final thing I have not seen in print, the Datum ski, with its design to NOT have a wheel draging in the back of the ski, besides ditching all that drag; makes a turning radius easily" inside" a penetration ski, with those little wheels draging in the back trying to keep the ski going straight. Datums website suggests single puck brakes, but double pucks work as long as they are positioned up ontop.
Having flown all the wheel skis out there, the only one imho that can compeate with these would be the Rossi Fernandez's at $24k plus shipping............ So unless you are a multi millionaire, or the US Government? Not sure how practical they are in a comparision.
In short these Datum skis, are real performers
in deep snow that will rocket up ontop quickly,
turn like a dream and priced realistically! The Summits look like the best penetrations out there, for sure. But if being on a straight ski in the snow ;with the ability to go back and land on wheels at the airport is something that interests you? Check out a pair of Datums.
Neither Summits or Datums are legal on certified airplanes. The new design Rossi Frenandez 8001 only legal on a Husky ........
according to their website???? The Datum skis
are exactly 5mph slower than the straight Fed 2000s; both rigged at 2.5 degrees at 2350rpm. 100mph on Straights vs 95mph on Datums, with a 74x52 prop.

I couldn't agree more, I love my Datums! I'll be flying to a Idaho skiplane fly-in in a week (weather permitting....) and I hope they don't groom the hell out of the strip like last time, heck I could have landed it on my Airstreaks. But the wheel penetration guys seemed to prefer that. Just to show off, I landed in the the undisturbed powder on the side the last time I made this fly-in, it's what I'm used to doing anyway. Last time, I believe I was the only plane on retracts, out of 15 or so. I get the simplicity, lighter weight, and lower cost of a simple wheel penetration ski, but for max utility (and damn the cost and added weight) I like the Datum's. Though to be fair, I have never tried anything else.