DonC wrote:

Fixed the link. Cool pictures!

Very entertaining reading! You guys ought to pool all of your anecdotes together, and write a Book!

Alan

Alright, we're going to make you old timers famous.

https://www.backcountrypilot.org/featur ... e-dodge-jr

Zzz wrote:Alright, we're going to make you old timers famous.

https://www.backcountrypilot.org/featur ... e-dodge-jr

That was great. Thanks Don C!

Why are those planes called "Sleds"?

My guess is from Lead Sled. "Flys like a lead sled when loaded up"

But I have no idea where the name lead sled came from......

Called a sled because they could haul about the same load a dog sled could. I think that's what Gump said when I asked that same question a few years ago.

Yup....

I've been wrong plenty of times before. Won't be the last...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_sled

whee wrote:Called a sled because they could haul about the same load a dog sled could. I think that's what Gump said when I asked that same question a few years ago.

GumpAir said:

Yup....

Okay, thanks. That's interesting. The dogs certainly earn their keep pulling those loads.

Zzz wrote:Alright, we're going to make you old timers famous.

https://www.backcountrypilot.org/featur ... e-dodge-jr

"...where's my $1200?"

Should be the Alaska State motto. [emoji106]

Great story Don. Don't quit now.

"...where's my $1200?"

Should be the Alaska State motto. [emoji106]

Great story Don. Don't quit now.[/quote]

For the life of me GB can't imagine what Atlee told those security guys about why his airplane was sitting off the runway at Intl Airport in which would be considered not airworthy condition by any standard. With no pilot. Not sure Atlee had a ferry permit. Would have landed on Lake Hood strip but didn't think I could get it stopped I decided I didn't want to be involved in any thing that was going to happen And beat feet out of there.

tcj wrote:

whee wrote:Called a sled because they could haul about the same load a dog sled could. I think that's what Gump said when I asked that same question a few years ago.

GumpAir said:

Yup....

Okay, thanks. That's interesting. The dogs certainly earn their keep pulling those loads.

They didn't like hauling the 900 lbs of soda pop into Shageluk as much as the sled.

Lambaste me if you must for resurrecting an old thread, but I couldn't pass up a Sled thread! It's a tricky airplane to learn to really fly well, but when you do, it's probably the airplane I'd be most likely to trust my life to. One or another Sled got me out of a lot of places I never should have been in the first place. I can't vouch for Gump's stories first hand, but I can say that they sure ring true! The other reason that the Lead Sled got it's name... when you pitch for best glide, you get about 1500fpm down... and at 500' AGL, that goes quick!

Anyway, some pictures, because pictures are fun:

Any of you Sled flyers ever fly N1785U?

My dad bought it from Frontier years ago and fixed it up. He sold it and it is now running around Puget Sound. I sure wish I would have bought it from him, great hauler that I could use now hauling all my buddies to fly-in's and breakfast!

Kurt

Sparkman, thanks for resurrecting this thread. I've read it end to end a couple times. Love the old stories.

I can imagine a best glide like that will earn you the 'Lead Sled" moniker pretty fast.

Sparkman wrote:Lambaste me if you must for resurrecting an old thread, but I couldn't pass up a Sled thread!

Some threads are a welcome resurrection.

Good pics Sparkman.

Looks like 94U has the same barn brush blue paint job it had 20+ years ago.



Did the new risen from the ashes "Yute Commuter Service" absorb any of the old Yute Air Sleds?

Gump

G44 wrote: Any of you Sled flyers ever fly N1785U? My dad bought it from Frontier years ago and fixed it up. He sold it and it is now running around Puget Sound. ....

It took a s/n search, looks like it has a new tail number and is registered to an owner in Friday Harbor.

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry ... rtxt=707PA

Different name on the registration, but apparently it's part of the Island Air fleet.

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/ph ... 73849.html