This is the first winter I've been attempting to keep my runway open, and all I have to do it with is 28 horse Kubota tractor. It does a GREAT job for its size, and I really hate to upsize if I don't have to, I mean all winter I use maybe 7 or 8 gallons of diesel, it really makes me dream of a Kubota powered airplane, it is that fuel efficent. The problem now is that as the winter goes on, the banks are building higher, and I can't throw it (the snow) as far as I'd like. Drifting is a worse problem as the blown out area gets lower (or the unblown area gets higher). I throw it to the downwind side, and right now its clearing my spades (standard on a Rans S7-S, like a Husky) by 6 to 8". I know because when I flew yesterday, the first time in a few weeks, I first walked the runway and checked with a straightedge and a 4' level. I deemed it doable, and didn't think much of the berm at the end where I'd pushed a high bank, I figured I could afford to lose 15 or 20 ft. of lineal, what I didn't think of was its 4 or 5' height meant I really shortened the strip by more, as I of course had to clear the berm on final. I had already made it quite a bit wider, at 20', then its usual 12'.
Anyway, Sunday was perfect weather, and as I had previously plowed the runway out 3 times without being able to fly before the next storm hit I was motivated. Due to not being lined up just right on the snow packed staging area I didn't hit full throttle until down a ways, I rotated and cleared the berm at the end just enough to feel/hear the tailwheel touch it, not smack it just glance off it, Ok I thought, I used ALL the available runway!
I had a great flight for over an hour, checking out some back country skiing sites on the mountain behind me, the glass smooth dead calm conditions allowing me to get down low in some areas I would usually not go due to sink etc. At one point I realized I was putting off the landing, not good, I usually look forward to it, before getting more nervous I entered the pattern, checked for traffic (ha-ha, ain't none) and paying quite a bit more attention then usual set her down, feeling the tailwheel thump the berm again on short final, no braking was feasible on the snow pack so I wanted to come in extra short.
Bottom line, I have reached the end of my pushing the short field limits with the S-7S and my strip, I need a bigger tractor or a heat wave. I was watching some Olympic coverage later, and I realized my "runway" resembled a luge track.

The Oshkosh snowblower will throw snow into the next county. You can pick them up used for as little at $12,500 (advertised price for one in PA right not). A truly mighty piece of equipment!

http://www.oshkoshcorporation.com/news/mediacenter/Snow_Removal/Oshkosh_Snow_Removal_1.jpg

Eric

Move to a city, ya dumb hick!

My neighbors ranch is for sale. Use my strip.

Tim

Skis are cheaper than a bigger tractor.

nice strip courier...i've seen a lot worse and been in and outa worse in the 182 up in the good old bone country...

I typically plow my runway at least 75' wide, inevitably the more snow you get through the winter the narrower your runway will get. Another big deal is getting out early and often even if you aren't using it, keep it plowed as wide as you can. I plow my runway everytime it snows even if it only amounts to a few inches. Even if you start out that wide you will be surprised how narrow your runway will be by spring.

One more idea, if the snow is drifting bad, plow multiple berms on each side, parallel to your runway, a short distance away. These will catch the drifting snow before it gets to your runway. Then after the storm, plow the berms back up making them higher than before thus making them more effective. A snow fence will do the same thing.

lowlevelops wrote:I typically plow my runway at least 75' wide, inevitably the more snow you get through the winter the narrower your runway will get. Another big deal is getting out early and often even if you aren't using it, keep it plowed as wide as you can. I plow my runway every time it snows even if it only amounts to a few inches. Even if you start out that wide you will be surprised how narrow your runway will be by spring.

One more idea, if the snow is drifting bad, plow multiple berms on each side, parallel to your runway, a short distance away. These will catch the drifting snow before it gets to your runway. Then after the storm, plow the berms back up making them higher than before thus making them more effective. A snow fence will do the same thing.

You hit the nail on the head, and that's how I handle my driveway, being the first year for the runway I didn't have my act together, and I can't blow the big berm (on the downwind side) any further because I have my summertime sprinkler system there somewhere! Next year I'll move the sprinklers way over, and start wider....the county here uses the snow berm concept and it seems to work. I did put up a permanent snow fence this fall along my crosswind part of my driveway (8' high, steel drill stem pipe in concrete footer, SOLID) and it works so well I can see its called for along the runway. The nearby ski area has a manager that's a great source for snowfencing info.
I have a friend who sold his Uni Mogg last year, complete with snowblower. It had its own 400 horse turbo diesel engine, and could throw snow 100'! Also a super low granny gear, I mean it'd take 15 minutes to move 10', 18 K but too much/big for my needs. I use my tractor year round, unlike a specialized snow removal piece of equipment, (the Oshkosh) I can also claim it as a "tool" for the "farm". I think a couple sizes up tractor wise will help a lot, about 50 hp at the PTO would do it, I hate overdoing it, I like "just right".
Wheel penetration skis may be where I end up, I just hate the little tires they have with minimum sticking out, I have gravel and small rocks to deal with, I just haven't seen anything yet that pushes my buttons there. Or, I can just wait for spring. No way!

I am working with the maker of Datum retractable wheel skis to get a design adaptation for my Tundra. They are built in Quebec and use electric lift to raise and lower. They are powerful enough to raise and lower the plane while it is on the ground. Not much more money than fixed penetrations that I have seen and the skies have been well tested to German standards before being allowed on planes there. Sizes up to 3500 gw.
Here is the website. http://www.datumair.com/
There is a rans S7 fitted with one on the site.
At present the designer is working with Matco to build a hollow steel axle to the Grove specs that will replace the solid aluminum one that bolts to the Grove spring gear of the Tundra. Its looking like a project that I will not get finished in time for this winter. These skis are for experimental aircraft only.
Just something to keep you up at night and somewhere to spend your money to trick out your plane instead of a tractor.

Now that I've seen those pictures I see a person can fly in and out to catch a day of skiing at Pebble Creek. Will a 185 fit in there...

Dirtstrip,
I am also thinking of the Datum skis....and in fact just emailed them to ask the big question HOW MUCH? The biggest problem I have right now, is, over and beyond keeping the runway clear, once I do get up and out, I CAN'T GO ANYWHERE, except for airports. Flying over the snow covered off airport sites I frequent in the summer is tough, I can only look at them....obviously a good ski setup would kill two birds with one stone. Hey its only money right? Damn I really want a new tractor though! I'll post what Datum wants for their setup, I don't think it's a secret or anything, but they (like TrickAir Skis) don't post it on their site, they don't want to scare off customers I guess

Here's a bigger tractor for ya! My dad works for the FAA maintaining the road to one of their radar sites and I took this one day last year.

courierguy,
Datum puts the price on the skis models that they have listed on the site. There are more models than shown there. The page for your weight class is here with the price. 3550 CDN

http://www.datumair.com/Series1500.html

The Rans that is pictured has the next larger weight class ski than this. It is shown with the 2000 model. I believe it is because of the same reason I will move up one class for my Tundra. They have a wider gap in the split ski to accommodate a larger tire so we don't have to down size. I want to stay with 8.50 X 6 year round. The 21 inch height is the tallest he has done.

I looked at Trick Air too but they are more money now that he has them FAA certified.

I have 25 inches of snow and operate the scout with 31 inch bushwheels. I drive a 85 hp 4wd tractor up and down part of the runway moving over 1/2 width of the tire until I have a firm packed area long enough and wide enough to operate from.

I use to try plowing and ended up with dangerous high berms and a narrow runway because I couldn't move the berm over any more. And they stayed way after the snow melted.

With the packed area, when the weather heats up enough to make soft mush, the packed area gets hairy, but then I can usually land in the other part that wasn't packed.

Patrolguy: Due to the slope I have to deal with, and the snow conditions, I have to move it before driving on it, getting stuck at the bottom is a major chore! Glad that's working for you.

That's a great aerial shot of the big blower doing its thing, I wish I had the FAA's money!

Another way to go: I received a prompt reply from Datum, they just so happen to have a set of 2000 LT skis in stock, and they seem to be reasonably priced (buying my Bushwheels last year changed my idea of what's reasonable, kinda hard to be shocked at pricing after that) $4800.00 Canadian and change with a tailwheel ski, delivered to my doorstep with everything needed. They use 6:00 tires, I wish I hadn't given the ones that came with my kit away now! Decision time.

courierguy,,ck.out the snowblowers that attach to your 3 pt.hitch item#253007 shown in www.northerntool.com look in farm & acreage aera [page].i delivered one to a rancher in burns last year and he has been very happy with it. he makes extra money with it on the side.

52Romeo wrote:courierguy,,ck.out the snowblowers that attach to your 3 pt.hitch item#253007 shown in http://www.northerntool.com look in farm & acreage aera [page].i delivered one to a rancher in burns last year and he has been very happy with it. he makes extra money with it on the side.

I am all blowered up, have been for a while, plus a front pusher blade. I would have had to quit flying months ago if not!
Looking around my place this AM, even IF I had skis, I don't know how I'd get past my berms to the undisturbed snow, I have to clear the snow to get out of the hanger, and to taxi up to my staging area, so that leaves a distinct line between the two, the line being 3 to 5' of hard compacted clumpy snow. I have to come up with a plan that leaves me a way out, hard to do late in the winter when room to push/blow the snow is real limited. I'm bitching about this to make you guys who fly out of state maintained paved airports (boring) feel better! The bottom line is I could go out to Pocatello (300' WIDE, wider then mine is LONG, I'm pretty sure they plow it (ha ha, its towered) rent a hanger and call it good. But that would TOO EASY, I have to do it THE HARD WAY

I will throw this out as a crude but effective idea........ I save my ashes out of the woodstove and when I need to melt snow fast, well as fast as the sun can anyway..... I take the ashes and throw them on the mounts of snow and after a full day of bright sunlight it usually reduces the pile by a fair amount. I am sure a full sun day over there in Poky will cut into the height issue several inches a day. The good news is as the snow melts it still stays dirty and dark so the effect continues till the snow is gone... Then the ashes are a great fertilizer and the grass will grow good a green.. YMMV.


Ben
in the hole

You could get one of these

454 cubic inch big block Chevrolet V8 produces 412 horsepower Just in case your havin' any trouble removing snow from your driveway... this baby will blow snow back to where it came from



http://www.backcountrypilot.org/gallery ... blower.jpg
http://www.backcountrypilot.org/gallery ... lower2.jpg

ddnisley wrote:You could get one of these

454 cubic inch big block Chevrolet V8 produces 412 horsepower Just in case your havin' any trouble removing snow from your driveway... this baby will blow snow back to where it came from



http://www.backcountrypilot.org/gallery ... blower.jpg
http://www.backcountrypilot.org/gallery ... lower2.jpg

That's the best idea yet! That kind of thinking makes me proud to be an American, that and 2 stroke engine powered blenders. And recliners that can hit 50 MPH, same with high speed riding lawn mowers, things like that, dreamed up by us, have to really give pause to other cultures, we are the baddest people on the planet, and I mean that in a good way! Nobody can touch us for sheer mechanical genius. BUT, next time it's flyable I'm going to fly down to the Logan Utah Kubota dealer and see whats up, and see what kind of a tradeup I can do........