Wondering what you guys are doing for a tail ski for the M7 235C. I made some inquiries today only to find out Trickair is no more. I don't think many companies (if any) have STC'd a tail ski for the M7. I know many guys don't worry about it and even use a modified shovel but was hoping to keep it all legal.

Hold on now... I just got off the phone with Kathy Schwister trying to verify this rumor. They are NOT closed or out of business. Sounds like things are going well at the Trickair factory, with a 2-month lead time on new skis.

They do offer a tail ski: https://trickair.com/tailski/

Give them a call if you have questions: +1(612)930-7647

Tell them Zane sent you and I want my ski discount.

I should have verified this before I mentioned Trickair's current status. A guy at Custom Fibreglass Mouldings in Wisconsin (a competitor) told me this today.
In any case, I'm glad they're still around since I have the Trickair 3000's and would like to get the tail ski from them.

Aero Ski in Brooten, MN also sells a tail ski, though I don't know if they've ever STC'd it.....doubt it. I always liked a tail ski, though a lot of pilots don't use them. They CAN upset the balance of the tailwheel a bit and cause shimmy. Properly rigged, and normal conditions, that's easy enough to avoid.

Getting into deep snow, tail ski really does help. I ran them on 185, my Cessna 170, Cubs and Huskys in interior Alaska.

I agree with MTV given the type of snow I usually encounter and risk of underlying slush a tail ski is essential in my opinion.

I agree, lots of slush nowadays especially with the winters we've been having of late. Hitting it with no tail ski is like throwing out another anchor and takes the fun out of it. Looks like a new tail ski is just under $1000. Well worth it.

I do not know your tail weight, however, here are two data points. Attached is an old Fluidyne I have run on our 180H for over 30 years. Definitely warranted on the 180/185. I never saw a need for a tailski on our PA-18A as the BBW gives me enough floatation even when loaded. Like most things, the need depends on your operating weight and snow conditions. I suspect your Maule tail weight is somewhere between my examples but much closer to the Cub (loaded).

TR

I have the aeroski tailski on my M6 (with Aeroski R2800s on mains) and it is not as good as the concave ones like burls or schneider.
But it works fine.

The trick air ski looks a bit ungainly but works real well , comparable to the burls ski .

Well I waited too long and missed my chance for a new Burl tail ski to fit the Alaska BBW. Anyone who's not up to speed at this point should know Burl is shut down and their STC is up for sale.

I'm now looking to find any used ones out there for sale. Is there a place on this forum that list items for sale?

I did contact Trickair but they don't have tail skis to fit the Maule tailwheel so I'm SOL there as well.

Your pic shows a Scott so I don’t realize you had a Maule tailwheel. Not many people going to make one for the old Maule tailwheels.

Buy a used Scott tailwheel and you have lots of options. Personally I wouldn’t worry with an STC

Summit Aircraft Skis makes a tail ski for the 3200 Scott / ABI style tailwheel. Info can be found by emailing [email protected] (CubCrafters manufactures the Summit line of skis)

In my experience, the best tail skis are the ones built by Burl Rogers. Burl is now retired I understand. If you can find one of his skis, go for it.