Just wonder if someone have used the Fed C3000 always with the wheel down. Whats the performece in snow in different conditions?

And next Q: If You go for speed - is the best to fly in wheel-configuration?

Landing those skis with the wheels down will provide performance somewhat poorer than wheel penetration skis. If you are in very shallow snow, or landing on hard pack, that may not be a big deal. ANY kind of challenging snow condition, however, could cause problems.

Takeoff performance, on the other hand, will likely be miserable.

So, why would you lug around a set of these (very expensive and EXCELLENT) wheel skis, and NOT lower the skis for snow landings?????

As to speed, every airplane/ski combination is a bit different. For many, if not most wheel ski equipped aircraft, they are at least a LITTLE faster wheels down.

MTV

Federal C3000 expensive? Ive bought them for just 4000 US-dollar (in Scandinavia). And, yes, overhaulded two years ago....

Well, and I asking and hope for an answer from those guys hwo realy knows this skis, and their performance in different conditions! Are this skies for example comparable with fixed wheel-skiis, when going with gear down?

Stinsoner,

If you can buy those skis in good condition in Europe for that price, buy me a couple sets....I'll pay the price and the shipping. Those skis are worth more than that here, in excellent condition.

I have experience flying those skis (though not on a Stinson), but I never even considered landing in snow with the wheels down. Again, why would you even consider that, unless the hydraulics were disabled, or unless you don't install the hydraulics. If that were the case, you could find penetration skis that would work better, and be lighter .

But, whatever. Those are some of the best retractable skis ever made. They are wonderful skis on airplanes the size of a Cessna 170 or early 180, or probably your Stinson. I've flown them on Cessnas some and on one Scout. They are great performing skis. With the wheels retracted....

But, whatever winds your watch. Perhaps a more specific explanation of what it is you are considering would help. For example, if you don't have the hydraulics for these skis, the pumps are still manufactured, and don't cost all taht much. Rigging a simple manual hydraulic system is not that difficult or expensive.

Again, if you're serious about that price on GOOD condition skis of this type, send me a PM.

MTV

Also curious why you would want to land wheels down when you have the option? I would also like to buy a couple sets at that price! MTV, we can split shipping to the Midwest!

As to your question, I have 2500's and have taxied off the concrete and tried to continue wheels down to see of it was possible on the snow conditions that day. It takes a tremendous amount of power to even move let alone try to take off. The wheel penetration is much deeper than a fixed position ski. Unless the snow was very deep & fluffy I would think it would be close to landing an amphib wheels down? On loosely packed snow the drag would be quite a bit with nearly half the wheel below the ski. I say use the hydraulic feature, it works quite well!

-Jeff