Ski Planes

[crispy critter]

Re: Ski Planes

I had a 7AC Champ and a S2 Pitts for a few years.The Champ had ski's with it so in the winter I figured I would put the skis on the champ just in case it snowed too much to fly with wheels then I would always have a way to get in the air.We generally get quit a bit of snow here in north east ky but the past few years have been wet instead of white.The first winter that I put the skis on the champ it sat for 3 months before I took them off and re-installed the wheels.The very next morning we had 6 inches of snow on the ground followed by a foot and a half over the next 3 days.I then put the skis back on(determined to fly with the skis)but the clouds did not premit a flight for 2 more days by which time the snow was gone again.The following winter was completely different(winter of 1993&1994).That winter I was able to put them on between X-mas and new year and flew with them through mid april.We have not had a winter since then that gave us enough snow to use them at all.

[Dano"T"]

Re: Ski Planes

Here is a picture of my portable wheels for taxiing or just getting into the hangar. I just stick this under the ski tip and roll it back to the center of the ski.

[Dano"T"]

Re: Ski Planes

OOps The attachment was too large. Here we go.

[AKTcrafter]

Re: Ski Planes

Greetings from Alaska,

The days are warming up and we're gaining about 6 minutes of daylight each day so ski flying is at its best up here right now. Attached are several photos I took today after landing at the 4,700 foot level of Bald Mountain, just north of Palmer, Alaska. It was a beautiful place to stop for a cup of coffee and just to enjoy the view. My plane is an O-200 powered BC12D/Model 19 conversion w/ extra wide Federal A-1500's with plastic bottoms.

Regards, Roger Clyne

N94964

[crispy critter]

Re: Ski Planes

I envy those Alaska boys.They just know how to make us drool.I've made several trips up there delivering and picking up airplanes of various types but rarely ever get a chance to stay long enough to really enjoy or appreciate it's beauty and splinder.
GREAT PICTURES Roger...thanks for sharing them with us.

[Dano"T"]

Re: Ski Planes

I live in Michigan's Upper Penninsula where we have at least 3 good months of ski flying weather. We have to do something during those long winters. If I can get some of my buddies to at least get a sport pilots license we could get some light aircraft flying around here on skiis for some real fun, most of the old timers that introduced me to this 20+ years ago are all either gone or don't fly anymore. Nothing like flying into a remote lake somewhere for a cookout/picnic or better yet wet a line and catch lunch.

[crispy critter]

Re: Ski Planes

That's a pretty nice t-craft Dano.How long have you had it?I don't think I've seen you on the forum before until recently.Welcome aboard.....and just in case you've been hear a while and I've overlooked ya then it's good to meet ya.

[Dano"T"]

Re: Ski Planes

I've had 44008 since 1993. I learned in my dad's cub in 1984 but after I flew his buddy's T-craft I was hooked. I am restoring that bird now 26559 (I bought it) it's a 1940 BL-55 (Now A-65) with the round wheels and big tach. 44008 has a 20 SMOH C85 and exteneded baggage etc. I have my own little grass strip in the U.P. of Michigan but until this year I traveled so much for work it put a damper on my flying. I got a cushy 8-5 office job now so sky's the limit again. My 14 year old son told me he wants to learn now. He never showed much interest until I put the T-Craft back on skiis. He loved it. He'll be 4th generation if he's goes through with it. I found the forum and it looked like there was some good stuff flying around here so I signed up. I spose I'll join the foundation too. Nice talkin' to ya. See you around.

[crispy critter]

Re: Ski Planes

Dano,
It sounds like you've got it made.I am also a forth generation pilot.I'm currently restoring 96235 which was hit by lightning and burnt to the ground in May 1971.My great grandfather bought it in the 1950's and has been in the family ever since.My grandfather and father both learned to fly in it.Unfortunatly it was destroyed a couple years before I was born so I was forced to cut my teeth on a 1948 Cessna 170(n3900v).However my father could never stand the thought of getting rid of 96235 so it hung in his garage for more than 30 years before I finally got tired of hearing stories about it and decided it was time to do what everone in the family said couldn't be done......rebuild it!!After almost 5 years of stipping,scraping,scronging,looking,hunting,weldin g,cleaning,primming,and buying parts she has fabric on it again and to most everyones surprise I was able to re-use about 75%of the original parts,the rest I re-made.As I was digging parts out of the garage and taking them to the airport where I could sort through them my wife came out,look it over and said "It sure is a crispy critter ain't it".So that's how 96235 came to be known as Crispy Critter.You can see some pictures on the gallery site along with some other toys I've had or still got along the way.

[AKTcrafter]

Re: Ski Planes

Here's what unseasonably warm and rainy weather can do to a perfectly good ski plane lake in Anchorage, Alaska.

Roger Clyne

[matsuthunder200]

Re: Ski Planes

I had a wonderful adventure on skes. It ended up a two day trip. We left willow to go fix a snow machine that broke down in rainy pass and the guy that was with me was going to ride it back to willow about a 150 mile ride. We mad it to the snow machine landed on a small gravel bar in about 6 feet of snow. we put the new springs on the snomachine got it running and then made a 200 ft runway with it. The plan was for me to meet him at rainy pass lodge about a 40 mile ride down a river it had a lot of open leads i gave him a 20 min head start. When i cought up to him it was a sight to see he was going about 60 and water skipping the open water some as far as 100 feet. as i was flying buy he was crossing about a 50 ft spot of open water then all of a sudden he stopped water had gotten on the belt and that was it he was lucky he was 5 ft from the bank on the other side and it wasnt that deep I had to land in between two open leads in 6 ft of snow it was a gravel bar. Finaly we got it out and packed another ruway with the sled it was short about 150ft long i still had about 50 ft past that that was just snow so i could stop if i had to. I had no problem was light and some wind . So off to the lode we went i flew about 15 miles and decided to land and wait for him. When i landed i spooked about 300 ptarmagan was that fun had a small breakdown 22 in the baggage comp shot about 10 then mark showed up and he shot about 10. Finaly made it to the lodge when mark got there the machine had over heated and blew a head gasket. we cleaned the birds. had a wonderful ribeye stake dinner. It was 300 a night for two to stay at the lodge. We were going to haft to have parts flown in for the machine the next day. Boy did we luck out when we woke up i heard a airplane on the big strip it was a sky bus bringing in supplys going back empty how much to take the sled he said 50 bucks. We flew back to willow picked up the sled was home by 2. I did learn alot this trip about deep snow i have the 2000 aeros skes and i felt that mabe a little wider would have been better. I dont think the 1500s would have worked as good. shure was fun seen wolves moose fox and a wolverine......