So, I got the tail wheel steering reinstalled so I can see if that helps directional control on skis.


But today I go another lesson about ski flying when I woke up and the outside temp was 42 degrees. Snow melts. So.....

Great video. Thanks for posting.

Speaking of overflow, New Years Day saw LOTS of it, all over the lakes.

It's great to know what it looks like from above. Thanks for sharing! Once the temps are firmly above zero here in Wisco, I'm planning my first ski adventure.

So yesterday evening the snow is gone, the forecast for the next ten days is sunny or mostly sunny, no chance of snow. When I go to bed the forecast is for a 50% chance of snow today, accumulations of 1/10th of an inch. I wake up this morning and it's snowing and we already have 1 1/2" of fresh snow. Ha ha ha. well as long as it doesn't turn into a foot of snow I'll leave the wheels one. Sure glad I've installed brake line quick disconnects.

Chris In Marshfield wrote:It's great to know what it looks like from above. Thanks for sharing! Once the temps are firmly above zero here in Wisco, I'm planning my first ski adventure.

Interesting photo, but keep in mind that the overflow often can't be seen at all. That's when it gets real interesting!

It can also look like this:

BRD wrote:It can also look like this:

That picture just sent a chill down my spine. I hate that stuff. So, I lit the fireplace.....

Thanks, Brad.

MTV

Mike, glad to help, here's that whole sequence (Ben was flying, I was shooting)

Landing, looks good...



Is that water flying everywhere? Power Power Power!!



We should have heeded the spider hole warning signs!


Here are a few other examples...

I saw the title of this thread and thought this was what is was about
:

I have to admit it is nice to be back on wheels, although I expected to be putting Berringer's on. But they aren't available to late February or ???

Nothing exciting about this video I shot yesterday, but some nice music.

https://vimeo.com/249698706

Phil
If ya think it is easy to turn on wheels you will be real happy on skis!!!! I really see no reason not to have tailwheel steering if you can on wheels or skis!! Put the skis back on, wheel on snow are just begging for a new set of wings.
DENNY

My preference is no tailwheel steering, I like how light the rudder feels, a little harder on brake pads of course. But on wheels in the snow it is definitely easier to turn the plane with tailwheel steering. So I assume easier on skis. After we get more snow I'll go back to skis, but for now 2" with 35's is easy peesy.

After a brief few weeks back on wheels I'm back on skis (the brake line quick disconnects sure are nice) and just in time as we got eight inches of snow over the last couple of days. Then yesterday afternoon it went from LIFR to what you see in the video.

Of course getting the plane out of the hangar and in front of the fuel farm required a lot of shoveling snow, as did putting the plane back in the hangar.

Lessons learned: In the winter, when I'm on wheels always fill the plane's tanks before putting it away, much easier to taxi the plane to the fuel farm on wheels then skis. And the other lesson, after a decent amount of fresh snowfall put on the snowshoes and pack the snow between the hangar and the fuel farm, much easier then digging the snow around the skis and tailwheel just to turn the plane. Guess I'll be doing that later today.

Hooking up the tailwheel steering does help with turning the plane in the snow, not a lot but any help is appreciated. But quite frankly I'm looking forward to the day I can go back on wheels and unhook the steering, I don't like the rudder pedal stiffness with it hooked up.

Okay so this video is just more landing on frozen lakes, I didn't find the wolves (or their tracks) and only spotted one moose. I'm ready now to head to the mountains and glaciers for some more technical ski flying and lessons.

https://vimeo.com/254892788

What are you using for brake line quick disconnects? I've shopped around a bit but haven't given anything a try yet.

Ethan

These are the quick disconnects I'm using:

http://www.jegs.com/i/Allstar-Performan ... 2/10002/-1

Cool, thanks!

You're happy with them?

I'd looked at those and some more expensive ones from Galfer, Aeroquip (FBM1073/FCM1073), and Spiegler/Staubli, but it was tough to bite the bullet and order a set without knowing that they'd work. I'll make sure I've got some on hand for this spring - just need to check whether I have -3AN or -4AN fittings there

So far I'm very pleased. The same company makes the same thing but in a different color for something like $400 each. The description was the same, I couldn't figure out the difference. Maybe the expensive ones were made specifically for Funny Car driver/owner John Force as many times as he's been on fire.

Actually learning how to fly the plane on skis is a small part of the whole ski package, as you are finding out! Little things like re fueling and moving the plane around take on a whole different meaning. Just about everything is more difficult. Throw in a mountain side location like mine and it really ups the ante, and is one reason I just quit flying during the winter for years. But now that I have all the little details figured out, besides the flying part, I am really glad I pursued it, it is the most "intellectual" flying I've done, it makes me think the hardest anyway.

Last year:record snow here. This year again, record snow, as in so little! All gone now at my 5640' location, but still plenty points north, so I'm keeping the wheel skis on for a while longer.

courierguy wrote:Actually learning how to fly the plane on skis is a small part of the whole ski package, as you are finding out! Little things like re fueling and moving the plane around take on a whole different meaning. Just about everything is more difficult...

Boy that's the truth! After stomping the snow in snowshoes for and hour and a half yesterday, 10 degrees, sweating like a pig, hair frozen, I thought to myself "Boy those winter olympians are a bunch of sissies." I mean how long does it take to ski downhill, like 30 seconds maybe, and it's downhill. Now if they had to walk to the top of the ski jump and then ski down I might be more impressed. I do have a new respect for Winter Bush Pilots to be sure. And I haven't had to do anything hard yet like dig the plane out after getting stuck, or spending the night in the snow. Sure looking forward to Spring.