Those skis on the 170 in the photo look like Schneider penetration skis. I have zero experience with those skis on a 170.

My 170 was equipped with AWB 2500 hydraulic retractable wheel skis. Those skis work fine, but make sure you get ALL the parts (ie: the inboard stub axles.).

My airplane had an O-360, but the previous owner told me the skis worked fine with the O-300 as well, just better with more HP....

The skis are fairly simple, and serviceable. Parker still makes the pumps, last I checked.

If you can find a set for $10K, I'd go there.....I doubt you'll find penetration skis that work as well or better.

MTV

Mike, I'm disappointed you didn't tout the Fli-Lite 3000s as being better than the AWB2500s... What changed your mind?

Matt 7GCBC wrote:Mike, I'm disappointed you didn't tout the Fli-Lite 3000s as being better than the AWB2500s... What changed your mind?

The Fli Lites are magnificant skis......but, are they approved on the 170? I don't know.

They are far better skis than the old AWBs, no doubt. Bring $$ and STCs, however......

MTV

mtv wrote:Those skis on the 170 in the photo look like Schneider penetration skis. I have zero experience with those skis on a 170.

My 170 was equipped with AWB 2500 hydraulic retractable wheel skis. Those skis work fine, but make sure you get ALL the parts (ie: the inboard stub axles.).

My airplane had an O-360, but the previous owner told me the skis worked fine with the O-300 as well, just better with more HP....

The skis are fairly simple, and serviceable. Parker still makes the pumps, last I checked.

If you can find a set for $10K, I'd go there.....I doubt you'll find penetration skis that work as well or better.

MTV

Heed MTV's advice. There is a set of AWB 2500's rigged for a 170 that appear complete for 10K (on Alaska's List).

If you REALLY need wheels with your skis, then the hydraulic is the approved solution IMO. The fixed wheel penetration ski is the worst of both worlds (wheels and skis combined into one draggy terrible performing product). I have seen 185's barely get off a mile long lake in deep snow running fixed wheel penetrations when my 180H with Landes 3000 straights outperforms by a long shot off the same lake, same conditions, with 70 less ponies under the hood. As you can tell I prefer the straight (wheel replacement) ski, however, I also have two sets of Federal AWB's that are used when conditions warrant, allowing me to match the correct tool for the job. The fixed wheel penetration ski is also a tool, however, I put them in the class of an adjustable wrench.

TR

I'll agree that pentation wheel skis are a compromise but the added weight of a retraction systems was undesirable. The other reason is regulatory, the OM C of A category in Canada prohibits retractable undercarriage so the skis had to be fixed in a fixed position.