3rd times a charm.

Here we go again. The 3rd annual Trick Air ski plane fly in is set for January 20th with a back up day set for Sunday the 21st. This event was covered by Flying magazine last year so all of the cool kids are coming this year.

Weather didn't cooperate last year on our original weekend but we had great attendance on the rescheduled date. Same brief as last year and I will get more information up as the day gets closer. If anyone wants to make a trip of it I can handle overnight guests and welcome you. Let me know via PM or email.

Pencil it in and hope for thick ice and decent snow...

PJJ
Jackson Seaplane Base
MN61

Pics from Jackson 2018 (shooting the 1D)

eclectic ramp at BRD...




SJ heading out (maybe...






Colt!




The guy said the snow was sticky enough that the Norseman acted like a 65hp J-3 with three fat guys aboard!

Same event, shooting the 7D



SJ's ride



SJ and Shooter




Wipline booster...











AOSS Husky


plugged in...















Shooter and Julie

The Norseman used to live in Ponoka, AB. It was sold at a no reserve auction a few years ago. I was a bit heartbroken when I heard how low the price was. Expensive to operate though. I think he has floats for it too. Nice to see it flying and being enjoyed.

The snow may have been sticky, but it's said that the only thing that allows a Norseman to fly is the curvature of the earth. The Norseman can only go straight, but luckily the earth curves away after some distance, giving the illusion that the airplane actually rose.

Great pics as usual BRD. I had every intention of getting down there this year too, just didn't work out.

For those interested in another MN fly-in, check out http://www.redlakeaccess.com

JR's Corner Access hosts a winter fly-in every year on Red Lake MN, Feb 24 this year. Lots of planes, ice fishing, restaurant and bar on site. As stated on their website, please call ahead of time if you plan on flying in. See you there.

2019 was a COLD event, but the fellowship was great and the food FANTASTIC (brisket and the whole 9 yards of goodness)! Thanks Paul! (and Trick Air!)

Thanks for the photos. Looks like a blast. We have a couple ice runway events coming up at Gull Lake and Lac La Biche in February. I’ll be trying to make one or both. Probably on my amphib floats though. I haven’t switched, and might not this year. I’ve purchased TrickAir skis, but may run out of winter before I get time to install and learn to fly them.

The skis on the polished 180 with green accents, N32050, in the 2018 pictures caught my eye. The hydraulic cylinders are exposed, not like Flyidynes/Wiplines that I’ve seen in pictures. Can anyone comment on them?

Pinecone wrote:The skis on the polished 180 with green accents, N32050, in the 2018 pictures caught my eye. The hydraulic cylinders are exposed, not like Flyidynes/Wiplines that I’ve seen in pictures. Can anyone comment on them?

Those are Federal AWB skis, not sure but maybe AWB 2500A.

The more visible cylinder is a “Rigger”, which establishes and controls the attitude of the skis. It permits the skis to ride over irregularities on snow, but keeps the skis level in flight. That rigger replaces the bungee equipped primary cable on front of ski. Still a “limit” cable up front, to prevent ski from going over in the event the rigger failed.

The other cylinder barely visible is the retract/extend hydraulic cylinder. There is an arm that attaches the skis to an inside stub axle. The skis rotate on this stub axle.

Unlike with the Fluidyne/Wipaire C series retractable skis, the AWB skis place the entire weight of the plane on that arm when skis are down. With the Fluidyne, the weight of the plane rests on the tires, which rest on the ski tops.

The AWBs have different length arms, depending on model. The “A” models have longer arms, and will accomodate 8.50 tires. Some of our Cubs wore these skis, with modified arms (lengthened) Which let us run 25 inch Goodyear Airwheels with these skis. Which is how you spell “heavy”.

MTV

As always, awesome photos Brad!! Sorry I couldn't make it.

Had cleared away my hangar door a week ago in preparation for the event. Ran out of town for a week and got back to 2-3 inches of iceat the bottom of the bi-fold door.The ramp crew clear the ramp but they left about and a foot of snow at my hangar door also.
Poor ramp design that makes any melted snow/ice run under the hangar door and it freezes into a 40' wide block of ice. Ice was even inside the rubber seal on the bottom.

Thanks MTV. I like that they have fewer bungees and the rigging isn’t internal like the Fluidyne. Were they prone to breaking the lever arm?

Pinecone wrote:Thanks MTV. I like that they have fewer bungees and the rigging isn’t internal like the Fluidyne. Were they prone to breaking the lever arm?

No, not at all. They are stronger than a bridge beam. Probably the biggest down side is that they are heavy, around 130 to 140 lbs a set, all up. But, that’s pretty much the case with retractable skis.

The other down side is that approvals are sorta limited. They appear on the TC of many Cessna airplanes. 170, and 180 at least.

MTV

Thanks.

Some iPhone images from the event. I was shivering hard enough that indoor shots were fuzzy...


They had 3 sterno cans under every tray to keep hot. Food was fabulous! Andy looks serious about the choices.



Allen and Gary enjoying the brisket!