Hi All
I've been away from the group and from flying for a while. In the mean time got some new paint on the Challenger, since flying a pure white plane in the winter wasn't my brightest idea. So here's a little video flying around the North Pole, AK area last weekend. Plane is fitted with Turbulence Aviation skis. I've left tracks on frozen lakes before, but this is the first time I've stopped and gotten out. Enjoy.

Phil
P.S. Also posted this in "Where did you Fly today".

That looks like a load of fun! What engine is that?

I've just got the stock Rotax 503. It performs well solo, but adding a passenger really shows.

Excellent video and thanks for sharing!

I was expecting a Polar Bear to pounce on you the second you got out.

MAU MAU wrote:Excellent video and thanks for sharing!

I was expecting a Polar Bear to pounce on you the second you got out.

No polar bears, but if you watch right after I took off of the river, there were 3 moose back in the bushes watching me the whole time.
2 of them are visible in the lower left at 15:50.

Our airport manager has been restoring one that had been ghetto'd together by a 300 pounder. Suspension was tweeked, seat wanked, battery relocated to the back as a fat butt cantilever. I've been very impressed with how patient and helpful the challenger people have been as he puts everything back in place. It too has the 503, so I'm glad to hear your comments about the second passenger effect as that could be me. I'm assuming you're close to sea level where you started from? we're at 5000'

Yes, I'm below 500' here. Fully loaded doubles my take-off run compared to solo, so I go from under 300' to over 600'. And in deep snow I'm worried that it just won't have enough thrust to plow it's way up to take-off speed at gross. In the video I'm on about 3' of snow. Fortunately we've had a couple warm snaps and breezy days this winter so it's settled enough to support the plane well.

I've also got the aftermarket solid fiberglass main gear legs. I've heard the stock aluminum ones are pretty flimsy. And my nose fork is a larger version made by a local fabrication shop to take a 6" nose wheel. They've survived a few embarrassing landings without harm.

You might also consider a different prop at that altitude. The one that came with the plane is a bit over pitched. I only get 6,000rpm on take-off and max power for this engine is 6500. So it's basically a cruise prop. Some day when I'm feeling wealthy I'll buy a Warp prop for it.

Give my regards to your airport manager. It's a fun little plane, especially on skis.

Phil

I'll do it Phil. Have fun. I envy you guys flying around on 5 gallon cans of gas. Us Cessna guys buckle up prior to lighting ours soas not to get sucked into the carburator of the thirsty pigs.

I've also got the aftermarket solid fiberglass main gear legs

That is interesting. I bought 1(maybe a little bigger) inch diameter fiberglass sucker rod that came out the oil field and used it to make insulated fence posts. Used a chop saw to hack it into 8 ft sections. It was really tough stuff and wonder if your gear is the same kind of material?

Sounds similar. The gear legs are 1-1/2" diameter solid fiberglass, with some kind of steel insert in the base (fuselage end). Other than that there's just a couple bolt holes through them. They're pretty stout, but flex a surprising amount on rough ground or rough landings.

Phil