A1Skinner wrote:Sweet! Thanks Evan. Looks pretty cool.

I think that they just unscrew the fitting from the caliper and right into the fitting for the grabbers. Pretty slick.........er, not.

Looks like it. Wonder if it would help much on anything other then ice or hard pack.

Damn double posts.

Delete..

There is a video on the AAF website that looked like maybe a little more snow than ice. Looked not as effective but I assume (I have absolutely no experience on skis other than the kind you strap to your feet) that it has some good value for friction.

Ski brakes of one kind or another have been around for a long time. One method is to mount a hydraulic actuator with the "ram" protruding through a hole in the ski. The actuator is connected to the brake lines.

Brakes are great when taxiing on bare ice or very hard packed snow........but that's not where skis were designed to be....you can do that with wheels, why bother with skis in snow that you don't even leave a track in? I know, I know....sometimes you have to taxi on that stuff, even in great snow conditions.

But, on anything EXCEPT those kinds of conditions, there is PLENTY of drag to stop, by sticking the T/W or just the friction of the snow.

MTV

yes along those lines but I was thinking of something that would create drag in snow for turning add drag on one side to make turning radius smaller.

My bird is out of the shop and back in the hangar where it should be, and late yesterday I got to make a quick flight without the weight and drag of the 29" Airstreaks OR the W/D of the wheel skis. Wow, a pretty zippy airplane with what seemed like a quicker roll rate, got off and climbed real well also! But, in the 1/2 hr. flight to where I was going, instead of thinking "I can land there, there, there" etc., it was more like, " I can land..... there, maybe". A pretty vulnerable feeling with the little 6:00's on compared to the Bushwheel superman effect. Nonetheless, I couldn't resist one more gravel bar landing. My last thought before touchdown was I'd feel pretty stupid putting it on it's nose because of the small tires, with a pair of Airstreaks at home. It seemed like I could feel every pebble of this smooth though soft underneath gravel bar compared to the cush ride I am used to. I hope the snow arrives soon before I am tempted to go off airport again on the 6:00's. Note ski attach stub axles.

This is a test.

This is a test of the BCP image attachment service.

If this had been a real emergency you would have been instructed to step away from the computer, enter the aircraft of your choice, and exit the controlled airspace.

rocket wrote:This is a test.

This is a test of the BCP image attachment service.

If this had been a real emergency you would have been instructed to step away from the computer, enter the aircraft of your choice, and exit the controlled airspace.

Ok. That gets my vote for baddest tri pacer ever.

Now strap an additional 1000 lbs of airplane to ur backside CG:)

Man I can think of about thousand times I wish I had those brakes.

DonC wrote:Man I can think of about thousand times I wish I had those brakes.

That would indeed have been nice....if they worked in deep snow too.

I always carried a short loop of rope to throw over the toe of a ski to help turn......primitive and time consuming, but worked in at least some situations....

MTV

The ski brake looks really cool. There is lots of (8+) prior and recent patent art on designs that look the same or similar, though...Here's to hoping these folks get around it all.

Well, its been snowing here all week. Had a snowfall warning for mist of it actually. Its been in the low -20Cs with -30 windchills. So snowing and drifting. Still snowing and -21 right now. And currently a rain warning for overnight, cause this is Alberta and thats how things work in northern Alberta. Im hoping it doesnt rain because that'll really f up the great snow we have now. Hoping for some nice weather on the weekend to dig the plane out and get up. Did some digging tonight, as she looked a bit depressed and buried like this on my front lawn when I started...

I was flying last Sunday and parked the plane on top of the previous snow, just to give an idea how much we've gotten this week.
David

Should be a sunny day on Sunday, not so warm as to ruin the snow, enjoy. I guess it's hard to roll into a barn when it's on skis.

Rained tonight, supposed to be 22G37 tomorrow. Not gonna be much good for flying I'm afraid.

Not great conditions here either, below normal temps and above normal snow accumulation (currently -31). Probably no chance of it getting above freezing at any time until March. We got a big dump of snow right after the lakes froze and it keeps coming, acting as insulation, then the weight of the snow pushes the ice down, forcing water up, instant slush. The PA12 has the skis on, but won't move until the cold weather does it's job, as lakes are our only runway.

Steve

Ya, I know what you mean Steve. I was checking on my dugout aireator yesterday and fell through. Ice is not thick and lots of slush on top. Certainly won't be landing on any lakes without thorough inspection before hand. Also need to build a drag to drag my strip. Won't be able to get the Citabria out to it and take off in the waist deep snow.

Flew the Batplane up north to share Christmas with a friend who watches the Tikchik narrows lodge , Carter, the other day. The winter watchman from royal coachman lodge, Mark, came over on his snow go to share in the festivities. We had baked up a couple pies and was prepping for a feast. We flew out west to check on the Caribou that hang out about forty miles to the west; found a group of fifty in the usual place.

It was the morning of Christmass, not an airplane in sight, and contrary to the weather forecast it was glorious. I went out with my Northern Companion to get her all warmed up thinking I was going to just make some noise. While I was pumping up the whisper light stove the idea popped into my head: fly one of our pies over the mountain to the new winter watchers at Golden Horn Lodge! One hour later we were landing with a santa hat, a bag of fresh grapes, and one of our home made pumpkin pies.

Tom and Michael arose from their bed wondering about the airplane clatter and who was flying around in the all black airplane that landed in front of the lodge. Out popped the three of us, no doubt striking fear into their hearts with both Carter and Mark looking their winter watchmen rough. Rocket was looking, well you know, like Rocket only he was slightly out of uniform sporting a red and white tasseled ho ho cap.



Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!


Rocket

rocket wrote:Flew the Batplane up north to share Christmas with a friend who watches the Tikchik narrows lodge , Carter, the other day. The winter watchman from royal coachman lodge, Mark, came over on his snow go to share in the festivities. We had baked up a couple pies and was prepping for a feast. We flew out west to check on the Caribou that hang out about forty miles to the west; found a group of fifty in the usual place.

It was the morning of Christmass, not an airplane in sight, and contrary to the weather forecast it was glorious. I went out with my Northern Companion to get her all warmed up thinking I was going to just make some noise. While I was pumping up the whisper light stove the idea popped into my head: fly one of our pies over the mountain to the new winter watchers at Golden Horn Lodge! One hour later we were landing with a santa hat, a bag of fresh grapes, and one of our home made pumpkin pies.

Tom and Michael arose from their bed wondering about the airplane clatter and who was flying around in the all black airplane that landed in front of the lodge. Out popped the three of us, no doubt striking fear into their hearts with both Carter and Mark looking their winter watchmen rough. Rocket was looking, well you know, like Rocket only he was slightly out of uniform sporting a red and white tasseled ho ho cap.



Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!


Rocket

Rocket,
That's a great story. Here, my kids stamped out a huge "Merry Christmas" on the lake for pilots going over.
Cheers,
-DP

Are you sure this isn't a painting???