We have a 180D and have been thinking of penetration skis for about two years. We are on a small airpark with a 1700' grass strip and they don't plow. We're snowed in 2-3 months a year and we're just looking for an option to get in and out of our field. Maybe an occasional lake landing during the snowmobile season. A year and a half ago, I spoke with TrickAir at Oshkosh and they told us they were about 7 mos out on orders. That certainly wasn't going to help that year. We stopped by TrickAir again this year at Oshkosh and they told us they were now a year out on orders. When the snow finally hit this year and we decided enough is enough. We had resolved ourselves to the $9500 price tag and decided to pull the trigger only to find that they upped the price $3K! Bam...We're back to no skis. $12,500 is out of our price range. $9500 was hard enough to sell around the house. We are looking at Airglass now and we would appreciate any advice from those who have experience with any penetration option for the 180. My wife is pushing for used skis but they prove to be difficult to find. We look on eBay but would appreciate advice on other locations to watch. Thanks.

Watch alaskaslist.com aircraft section. Shipping might be a pain, but could also justify a trip to Alaska in your 180.

There is a set on the anchorage craigslist right now for $2000, look to be in decent shape. The LW 3600s show up all the time.

Thanks guys. That's a great start.

No way would I run the older Airglas penetration skis again... I had a set, but the drag was a dealbreaker. I was running in and out of a 1800' strip on those skis, but one night I almost had to sleep there. LOL. The design causes the spring to push the little tailwheel down into the snow acting like two anchors. If you do end up going that way and find a set of used ones, make sure you but the later model upgrade kit which changes out that tail spring design...

Greg-

I have a pair of TrickAir. Have only flown them a few times, and not in deep powder, but I’m pretty satisfied. I got a good deal used. Bought them for $5000 USD. Had 12 hours flying time on them then. Didn’t include a tail ski. I’d buy them again. Easy on and off after the initial install. No jacks required, unlike the Airglas. Takes only minutes.

Keep searching. A pair will surface. They don’t seem to hold value. Used ones I saw during my hunt were cheap, scaring me a little that owners weren’t satisfied.

I’m considering a tail ski. Not sure if I want the TrickAir or the Burl’s version. Have a McCauley tail wheel.

I have the Airglas 3600 with the updated tailwheel on my 185. I think i paid $4k.

Never felt like the skis were dragging at all and it just gets up and goes like hell!

Only skis I’ve ever flown on a skywagon so nothing to compare to

I was talking to one of the guys at our strip yesterday that has a 180 and has older Airglass penetration skis (No idea what model). He put them on last year and they were in his words "dogs" as far as drag. He moved them down a "notch" this year and said it made all the difference. No issue with pavement either. No idea if this is useful, but figured I would pass it along.

Pete

Bigrenna wrote:No way would I run the older Airglas penetration skis again... I had a set, but the drag was a dealbreaker. I was running in and out of a 1800' strip on those skis, but one night I almost had to sleep there. LOL. The design causes the spring to push the little tailwheel down into the snow acting like two anchors. If you do end up going that way and find a set of used ones, make sure you but the later model upgrade kit which changes out that tail spring design...

Greg-

The tail wheel is key in making these ski’s perform better.

Kurt