Hi,

just wonder if someone could share the experience of take of and landnings with, for example, the AK bush wheel in deep snow. Is big tires usable, instead of skis in some winter conditions?

The simple and safe answer is no...however snow conditions do dictate this...I have flown my super cub in 12" of snow ( with 30" tires) with no issues...it was very light and fluffy snow...early winter...This year my buddy needed to get his 100hp cub off our ski strip in snow for his annual...little 7" tires..about 8" of snow...I could barely taxi, once I poured the coals to her and used tail low soft field techniques...she popped out...landed at Gulkana on pavement....I would not attempt to land it on snow with those tires...be safe, get ski's...its a blast!

Ron

So what do You think would have happened in those worse conditions if You have used 30" instead of the small wheels?

Not sure what you are asking...With 30" tires it would have been fine. Problem is, as the winter goes on...the snow gets crusty in places underneath...causing potential hazards...thing you can't see...Bottom line, I don't make it a practice to use tires in snow.

I have flown my scout (heavy tail) in 8-10 inches of snow with no problems with 31's. Now I have 29 airhawks, which measure more like 26, and I have been taking off in 8" regularly.

Bottom line is that it all depends on the snow conditions.

Light fluffy snow and big tires work good. I used to use them all the time with either 26 inch Goodyears or 31 inch Bushwheels on Cubs.

But if the snow becomes dense, wet or crusty, then you have to be very careful and might end up on your nose. In those snow conditions I would look for snowmachine trails or ice roads where the snow is packed down.

Then in the spring when the snow has melted on the lakes you can go most anywhere until the ice pack itself becomes unsafe.

http://www.supercub.org/photopost/data//509/medium/97Y_on_Mille_Lacs_2.jpg

http://www.supercub.org/photopost/data/ ... e_snow.jpg

http://www.supercub.org/photopost/data/ ... _tires.jpg

http://www.supercub.org/photopost/data/ ... on_Bay.jpg

http://www.supercub.org/photopost/data/ ... e_snow.jpg

http://www.supercub.org/photopost/data/ ... hing_2.jpg

http://www.supercub.org/photopost/data/ ... hing_3.jpg

Like I said in the past... Get the Tool that fits the job... Not to discourage you from buying tires but I would rather see you fly than rebuild it. You can get away with big tires in the snow sometimes but there are times when it will bite you!! We don't get enuff snow here for me to justify skis but I think they would be interesting for sure.

I have flown 135 winter operations in the selway using a maule, for several years, like others have stated the snow conditions are the big factor, 6" of windblown or slushy snow can have an incredible amount of drag. 31" tires obviously work better in snow than 8.50's but I allways put the skis on when the snow starts comming down, thats what they are made for. Be Carefull!!

this guy's buddies had bigger tires, or skis:

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looks pretty low speed... but... dam...

I've seen two of them just like that over the years. Both had been flying, landing taking off all day, and then they hit some softer or deeper snow or the temps warmed up enough to make it mushy, and over they went. Ain't worth it.

Hottshot wrote:Like I said in the past... Get the Tool that fits the job... Not to discourage you from buying tires but I would rather see you fly than rebuild it. You can get away with big tires in the snow sometimes but there are times when it will bite you!! We don't get enuff snow here for me to justify skis but I think they would be interesting for sure.

I don't know anything about aircraft on snow, but I've driven a 4x4 in lots of snow, and it can be as variable as all get out. With 33" tires on the 4x4, it can be difficult driving in 8", or it can be fun pushing snow clear over the hood. In an airplane, you don't get to try it before you buy it, most of the time. There is no way I'd land on snow that I didn't know for sure what the conditions were like.

tom

patrol guy wrote:this guy's buddies had bigger tires, or skis:

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Funny there are so few foot tracks at the seen. I would have made 100 circles around it, looking for damage and crying.

You'll never know until it's too late. Sure can be tempting to use the wheels in the early season when you know exactly how much has fallen, but after some major snow falls, how will you know what the snow is like unless you've walked it before trying to land.

That supercub looks to be in good shape except for the Q-tip mod to the prop. That's almost sadder than the alley-oop 170-- so close, yet so far!

Eric

Looks like Lake George where that 170 flopped over

A theoretical question here:

If you were out in the “backcountry” with big tires (31’s or 35’s) and you realized that one was going flat, would you quickly take off and head for home where tools and friends are near by, or would you stay put and wait for help?

...and, if you headed for home, what would be the landing technique, knowing that one of those big tires is flat as a pancake?

-edit-

patrol guy wrote:A theoretical question here:

If you were out in the “backcountry” with big tires (31’s or 35’s) and you realized that one was going flat, would you quickly take off and head for home where tools and friends are near by, or would you stay put and wait for help?

...and, if you headed for home, what would be the landing technique, knowing that one of those big tires is flat as a pancake?

You should wait there, helicopter in an A&P mechanic, NTSB, and the FAA and finally call the manufacturer of both the aircraft and the tires and make damned sure you've got a ferry permit. These days a pilot is probably in violation if he airs up the tire without proper supervision.

Airworthiness, you know.

gb

Wup!!!!!!!!!!!!

Calling Wup.

I don't know nuthing about big tires, never could afford 'em. Flat nose or tail I never gave it much thought, but just flew home and held 'em off the ground until I parked. Mains I fixed where I was, or sat there until I got a new tire/tube/wheel flown in.

Gump