stuff. Going to take me a while to get used to these new hydraulic things.
Never flew straight skis before and always had the tires sticking out on my
fixed penetrations. They were a good compromise to both worlds...and
although they could sometimes be a real bear to taxi in a straight line in
the snow and sometimes unpredictable in whether you could get turned around
tight on them.... the brakes where always there when I came over the snow
bank and onto the laneway in front of the hanger! I slide over the snow bank
with these hydraulics and yehaw....ran out of real-estate in a hurry with
them sliding so nice across the slick plowed area in front of the door. Shut
down pretty quick before things go out of hand! Now I know how my neighbour
has put his wing tips into his hanger and trees a couple times now on
straight skis!
The hydraulic skis are a dream! Roll the plane out, fired her up and taxi on
wheels to the snow bank. Pump the plates under with about 15 strokes of the
pump and off we go. Slides so nice and effortless. Up to the end of the
strip in the snow (with son on board as well and 30 gallons fuel) using no
more than 1500 RPM ! On the old fix penetration skis at times I would use
almost full power to taxi in deep snow..especially if it was wet and you are
always banging the rudder back and forth to TRY and stay straight... to make
up for each time a tire grabs the snow. With these..like I said nice and
effortless. Straight ahead with very little rudder input...very easy turn
around at the end of the strip in less than a 25' radius (and I didn't have
a tail ski on...stick forward..power and around in level attitude). I have
to work on the technique for these skis.... as different than my fixed
pen's.....but we were off the ground in about 650 feet. Landing slide is
wonderful. No more tires sticking out to wake you up in a hurry with the
need for full back stick and full power to avoid the "amphib" tumble! Going
to be a fun winter!
And of course the one of the best thing about these big skis (18" x 65")
(and the ones I had before) is that extra 16+ square feet of wing I have
when they are installed. Considerably slower in flight before touch down
than when on wheels...and without the sudden stop flying drop. The extra
"wing" helps with the float...and if you get too daring, and do drop in, the
powder snow makes a real good shock absorber!
We have the last set, for this winter, together and ready to go if anyone is
interested.
Cheers,
Wayne
----- Original Message -----
From: "Drew Dalgleish" <drewjan@cabletv.on.ca>
To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2004 1:24 PM
Subject: Re: Private Airstrips
airstripNow that there's some snow on the ground yes the whole country's an
Wayne got a flight report on the hydraulic wheelskis yet?
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