Well, with a good cover of snow, then a warming up and freezing again, I made the decision to swap the 31s for the skis.


The crust on the snow would make for a pretty short stop with the tires on. Went up today for the first ski flight of the season. The Smoky river is starting to freeze up, I'd say in another week it'll be totally froze up.



David

Ski season in the Brainerd lakes area circa 2011...

Right behind ya! I just installed mine today. Bring it!

-DP

I cherish yours pictures. Keep this thread alive!

8GCBC wrote:I cherish yours pictures. Keep this thread alive!

You should beg, borrow or steal all the BRD videos you can get your hands on!

I always enjoy Matt Keller's vids!

Skis sure do look like fun

Great vids!

It's on in Idaho as well..............as long as you're above 7k, lol. That should change here shortly with this next system approaching.

-18 f preheating........

Ski flying can be some of the most fun you can have in an airplane. It can also be some of the most work, if you actually get into deep snow . Don't ask how I know that....



MTV

G3: where did you find that snow?? Above Oakley maybe? I was over in the Lost River Range craning the other day and there was very little snow, ditto the Poky area, we missed out on those first storms I guess.

Awesome picture MTV! Yeah, lot's of fun, until it isn't.

Great minds think alike, I was in the shop doing an annual and swapping my tires out prior to ski install when I saw this thread, all done today and READY. The new ski ramp is buffed out and the summers grass cut from the winters airstrip, just need some snow. I've seen 24" dumps on Thanksgiving in this area in the past so am not too concerned yet.

Smiley Creek

I'm really hoping to try some ski flying this year. Need to figure out where to keep the plane because it will be on board skis.

yeah I think I still got a while to wait.......

I just got an idea skis don't have any kind of brakes. but with straight skis one still has the brake line and caliper there. all one need to do is to come up with I hydraulic lever that reaches down beside the ski to create drag. For those that fly skis you think it would work?

cstolaircraft wrote:I just got an idea skis don't have any kind of brakes. but with straight skis one still has the brake line and caliper there. all one need to do is to come up with I hydraulic lever that reaches down beside the ski to create drag. For those that fly skis you think it would work?

Looking at dps straight ski setup, he has his brakes removed. I have home made pieces that keep the brakes together and in place. Not sure one could fashion a hydraulic lever planning to use the brake fluid as your hydraulic. The brake pedals only give you pressure one way.
I find plopping my tailwheel into the snow when I want to stop slows me down quick enough in most conditions.

A1Skinner wrote:

cstolaircraft wrote:I just got an idea skis don't have any kind of brakes. but with straight skis one still has the brake line and caliper there. all one need to do is to come up with I hydraulic lever that reaches down beside the ski to create drag. For those that fly skis you think it would work?

Looking at dps straight ski setup, he has his brakes removed. I have home made pieces that keep the brakes together and in place. Not sure one could fashion a hydraulic lever planning to use the brake fluid as your hydraulic. The brake pedals only give you pressure one way.
I find plopping my tailwheel into the snow when I want to stop slows me down quick enough in most conditions.

Here ya go....

http://www.airframesalaska.com/skidrag.htm



Airframes Alaska is working on the "Grizzly Grabber Ski Claw." I stumbled onto the video last week. Pretty badass.

EXPERIMENTAL.

Sweet! Thanks Evan. Looks pretty cool.