I got my first couple hrs. of ski flying in yesterday, and made a very rare trip out to the controlled KPIH just to make sure the wheel mode was operating correctly. Plus it's fun to refer to myself as "skiplane blah blah", the tower has fun with it also I think, something to break up what must be a boring day. After that I made about a dozen slope landings, just getting my head back into the fact that I have no brakes again, can't see due to poor lighting, and if I screw up bad enough could be spending a chilly night out. Of course I have all the winter gear back onboard to do so, but really don't want to use it, ever. It's been low single digits here lately.

I need to come up with "a in between", when I fast taxi up my transition ramp to the bare concrete slab in front of the hangar, it's always tricky to keep my speed up (or I won't make it up the ramp grade) to make it all the way up, but not so fast that when I slide onto the bare concrete it's an abrupt slowdown, that's hard on the skis and their rigging. Once I get the mains on the concrete, I "go to the wheels", while the tail ski is still on the ramp, the engine running for the less then 30 seconds of transition at the rpm needed to not slide backwards, once the wheels are down I can then taxi up a bit and hit the parking brake. This gets the plane nose just barely clear of the HydroSwing door as it opens, and then I can grab the tail and swing it around and pull it back into the hangar. The in between I need is some substance not as grippy as bare concrete, not as slippery as snow, just about 4' length of it would do. It has to not cause an issue from the prop blast on takeoff, by blowing up into the rear tailfeathers for instance. It has to be removable so I can run the tractor snowblower over it. I may try a sheet of plain old readily available and cheap sheet of 7/16" OSB. Readily available means I think I have a sheet or two in the hangar.

After the tractor work clears the slab (so I can easily roll it out of the hangar and also do a runup while I still have brakes), I could just position it where it's needed, and I don't think the prop blast will lift it as I don't use much throttle until slid down the ramp and on the "runway" proper, and even if it did it'd just be the front edge and no way could it get jammed up under the plane. Like so many things about flying a ski plane off this mountain side I live on, I'll just have to try it and see if it works. Every now and then I remember why I just put the plane away for the winter as it is a pretty complicated undertaking to deal with the Chinese fire drill every time, but all in all it's been a pretty workable solution and damn, ski flying is fun.

Just one picture! What a tease!

Do you think a sheet of dry ski slope material would work?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_ski_slope

Courierguy, are you on straight board skis, retract skis or ?? How does your wheel system come into play ?

All you need is a garage door remote clipped to the sun visor of the S-7!

mauless.com, I believe he has Datum retractables on the S7. Tom did a great article on installing them, it was in Kitplanes or Sport Aviation (I forget) magazine. I'm sure he will chime in about them soon.

Would it be possible to land wheels down, then taxi up the ramp on the wheels? 46tcrft

Today I made my second ski flight, 1.5 hrs, and the first with the Montague since it's been converted to an E-bike. I had some business in a town about 30 miles away, much further when driving, so the plan was to fly to the the towns airstrip and then E-bike my way closer. The only problem was I got a little then halfway there and then realized I had left the bikes front tire and seat in the hangar So... I had to borrow a bike and got the biz done anyway, and upon landing back home I got to try out the OSB on the ramp theory. I think I'm on to something, it was still grippy enough to slow me down to a full stop as I crested the ramp, but noticeably not as sudden (and as hard on the skis) as the bare concrete. As this is my first winter with the Prince Prop, I am finding I do have quite a bit more thrust at low speeds, making the ramp climbing much less problematic. The thing with getting up the ramp is, if I hit too slow, I can get in a situation where I run out of steam going up, and then what? Back up? How far, it's all down hill! The only solution is to get out, while leaving enough throttle on to maintain position on the slope, and tie off to the Hydro Swing door truss. The 2 or 3 times this has happened I backed up a bit and got a little sideways, which was good, but still had to leave power on while climbing out and tying off. I'll try and get a video of this if it happens again, but frankly that is the last thing on my mind. Parking brakes and tires are a wonderful invention.

I tried a HDPE type of white nylon sheeting when I had my steel ramp, it blew off unless I had it riveted down, then the rivets presented a problem, about then I decided to landscape in the current much wider compacted earth gravel ramp. Now it's down to just the transition detail, and with the slick side of the OSB up, it felt pretty good. More testing is required, darn it!

Another issue is the wind scouring off the snow at the top of the ramp, so I am experimenting with a berm built out of snow, just like the county road crew does on my road. Snow fencing would be a pain, but I may need to do that also, we'll see. I also compacted the snow at the top after replenishing it with the Kubota's front end loader, using the snow shoes afterwards. If it sounds like a lot of work and hassle, it is, but it's been fun making it work and finding a workable solution to the various things that crop up. I have the time in the winter so what the hell, it's all worth being able to ski fly all winter instead of hanging it up. No way am I tying up outside or paying hangar rent 20 miles way, I'm too damn spoiled flying out of home, no matter how much work it is.

Well at least the problems you are having and adapting to means you have SNOW. Its raining in Wasilla right now. No snow. My mom has 4 or 5 inches at the ranch in California and Im thinking of mowing the damn lawn soon. FU%%$#!!!!

My New Years resolution is to fly more this year, 10 hrs so far. All with the E-bike/Montague on board Ski planes are rare enough, ski planes with bikes rarer still, ski planes with electrified bikes on board I'm pretty much the only show in town.


I am settled on using OSB as my ramp transition material, as hoped, it has the perfect amount of friction when I power up the ramp onto the flats in front of the hangar. It brings me to a gentle stop without undue wear or shock to the skis like the bare concrete was doing. Trying to gently ski taxi onto concrete is an oxymoron. So I got that settled, my other learning experience this winter has been NEVER walk back and forth multiple times into the hangar without first clearing the snow. I am still fighting a layer of ice caused by doing this, only in the path I walked. Unfortunately this area is also where max traction is needed when I'm pushing the plane out or in, so I've been spinning my vibram soles and it's been a PITA. If we get any warming at all I will chip it off and then in the future use my hangar entry through the shop and down the stairs until I use the Kubota to clear the ramp, all part of the joy of ski flying. Ha ha.

The E-bike is working out great, 30+ mph speeds (plenty fast enough, especially on icy roads), ultra quiet, and the range seems to be more then adequate. I won't know until I run the battery down a bit, and that hasn't happened yet. Like range in an airplane, with an E-bike, "it all depends." But it's looking like somewhere between 15 and 35 miles. What's somewhat surprising is how much fun it is to ride, and it still feels like a bike, not too heavy and the handling is largely unimpaired. The electric motor torque and quietness is part of the fun. It should trail ride just fine, I have low enough gearing for that also, and I am really looking forward to this summer.

On a 8600' ridge top on the way to what was going to be breakfast, then turned into a late lunch due to so much screwing around on the way. Bike stashed in back.


At Alpine, 8 degrees, and just starting to put the bike back in after the ride to the cafe and back. I got some funny looks by the friendly guy in the loader clearing the runway.

Nice pics! I'm jealous of all that snow.

You need one of these kits for the E-bike.

http://www.ktrak.es/indexeng.htm
Don't know how well it'll work,the track looks kinda narrow...

Well, the E bike motor I used would actually work with that setup, I'll pass though! Too busy looking.

mistake

I'm just going to make this thread my winter ski flying blog......

Today, up at the ski area above my place at the 8400' level, my place about 1.5 mile away down in the soup at 5460'. It never lifted clear of my place all day, though I was below the bottom of it and could have flown, it was like "why bother, flat light, no new snow to track up, and it easily could lower". It's handy, using the chairlift to determine the ceiling, almost cheating, and much better being up in the sunshine for a few hours then down in the murk.

We have been slammed by several good storms, hard to believe but winter, a GOOD winter, is finally here. All the skiers/boarders up at Pebble Creek behind my place are giddy, as are the ski pilots below (one of them, me). It's amazing how much terrain opens up with a bit more snow for both activities. Yesterday was the first day I was able to board fresh powder for a few hours, and then come home and after lunch jump in the plane and hit more fresh powder, and STILL be home in time to make the appointment with the DISH network guy. I bought my first HDTV, and now have the upgraded receiver (cool) and while landing my local sites I was able to eyeball my place and land right after he pulled in the driveway, convenient.

I had a minor prop strike yesterday, an unseen whoop de doo stretched the gear out enough, combining with the upslope on the far side of the de doo, to allow the big Prince prop to make contact. No damage to the prop, not even a little, and the snow was light enough, though not something I take lightly and certainly don't want to make a habit of, it appears all is well. This was about 1/4 mile from the hangar, in the rolling uphill terrain above my place, and familiarity breeds.... complacency anyway. That and being out away from the tree line and other visual cues for better depth perception, that kicks my butt all the time at the ski area, trees and brush are your friends viz wise.

The gravel bars are still "open".
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Before takeoff to the Lost Trail Ski Area north of Salmon, about 150 miles away. Full fuel, all my snowboarding gear, the electric Montague bike along with the 2 wheel Travoy folding bike trailer (to get from the airport to town, where I had a car arranged to make the drive to the ski area, I had all my ducks in a row), plus enough survival gear to spend the night out is needed. Lots of of landings on the way there and back were planned, but the wall of fog I couldn't get under and didn't want to fly 70 miles over, changed all that, next time.
[url=http://s649.photobucket.com/user/simkot/media/1-28-16%20004_zpsn6hyz2zq.jpg.html]


This was smoother then it looked, near an area that has ANOTHER orphaned, unmarked and out of compliance MET tower that I am taking on, as in getting it taken down. After this picture I continued on and landed at American Falls, got the E-bike out, and rode into town to the great (cheap also) local Mexican restaurant, a great way to warm up. The E-bike is a game changer, lots of fun and lots more options getting around once landed. Even in the middle of the winter


Being winter doesn't mean I can't check up on my past solar jobs, the owner of this 3 KW grid tied array called me the other day, thinking that maybe the lower output the last couple months meant she had a problem. I explained that winter means shorter days and longer nights, and I was able to keep a straight face while doing so. She is a highly educated professional but this was apparently outside her area of expertise.

A few more, it's too damn cold to go outside yet.

I had a totally flat tire in this shot, I had a brake freeze up and long story short, ripped the valve stem out. I landed here before landing my strip as I was unsure how the Datum ski would handle a tire that was OFF the rim. No problemo, other then the plane being tilted a bit after coming to a full stop. I now keep 35 psi in the 6:00's, 25 is too low, though it seems high after running 3.5 all summer in the Airstreaks! I also found out that it is possible to make a takeoff on the tires (skis up) with one totally flat, off the rim even on asphalt, with LOTS of opposite rudder and with the help of a little ice. This also is good to know.



8800', the ridge line to the right is at 9400', and a summer time LZ. No reason I didn't land there on the skis, other then it was 3:00 and I hadn't had breakfast or lunch yet, and a cafe was 10 minutes away. Next time.
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I need to get a new camera, that last pictures really sucks. My vibration resistant lens in the Nikon is doing something funky, and the entire camera is showing heavy wear. The last time I sent it in it was a flat rate of around 300 bucks......, not worth it this time, for 400 I can pretty much just buy new.

This site had a pretty good breeze, and I would be taking off uphill (to the left) a bit, so I laid out some really long tracks before coming to a full stop, I don't care how many compacting runs you make, once that engine stops and you come to a full stop in a place like this (and in single digit temps) and you step out of the plane, it's a moment. And it feels so good when the engine restarts and you get the hell out of there[URL=http://s649.photobucket.com/user/simkot/media/IMG_20151231_211113_zpskmiru384.jpg.html]!

The first year I was ski flying, this site really got my attention. Not as attentive to the need to ascertain the snow condition as I am now, I stupidly almost came to a full stop (without laying down any tracks first) and only then realized that if I let it full stop I was going to be stuck big time. I went to full throttle and was still barely able to make my turn around (one way canyon) at about 3 MPH. Even once back in my tracks the going was slow, I probably used 1000' to get out of there. This was my first time back there, and the snow seemed to be as slow and grippy as before, but this time I laid down 3 or 4 1000'+ long tracks, and then and only then when I came to a full stop I did at the start of the tracks. STILL a bit slow on takeoff but no real problem. This canyon just has some funky conditions, it doesn't get any wind maybe, which helps on the bare ridge tops I land, that snow is pretty solid.

Hey nice pics c.g.....looks like fun...would like to find skis for the 182T....!

I had to fly in to nearby Soda Springs the other day, and the direct 90 degree cross wind of 18-20 and the high frozen snow banks on either side of the runway made me abort my landing. Not that I couldn't of if I had to, but right before touchdown I remembered there was plenty of nearby open space with lots of snow, and I was after all flying a retract equipped plane So I sucked the wheels up (so to speak) and landed directly into the wind in about 100' or less, and then packed the electric bike over to the tarmac. Then I rode into town at 30 mph.....the bike setup is light enough to make this easy, the packing through the snow part. I texted this picture to a friend, then a few minutes later, 5 to be exact, I texted him again. The 5 minutes interlude included the trudge through the snow, securing the bike in the plane, and me getting in, strapping in, putting the headset on etc., and ready for takeoff less starting the engine.

Cool deal!

Wow, just like that, it's over. The big thaw hit and we lost a lot of snow real quick, and even with wheel skis my runway has been unusable the last 10 days. Not enough snow for the skis and too soft for the tires. BUT, I made it to the ski plane fly in in Stanley and got a really cool long sleeved t-shirt for free, all I had to do was fly this area on the way (Copper Basin, back door of Sun Valley area).
13 planes total, 2 Kitfoxes, my S-7S, and a slug of 180's and some others I can't remember. Most if not all on wheel skis, I think I may have been the only one on retracts, I had to demonstrate their superior flotation by getting off the groomed strip and into the deep powder on the side. On purpose or by accident, I won't say.

On the way back I had to stop in here, at 8800', been there in the summer a lot, first time in the winter. It's looking like that may be my last back country LZ of the season, I can live with that, a bit over 35 hours. It sure beats, even with all the hassles of winter time flying, putting the plane away for the winter when my strip got snowed in, I did that for 25 years before I got wise to a good set of skis. This year is twice in a row I didn't get stuck once, I've gotten a lot more suspicious when landing in the powder.