Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Perry Delano on December 16, 2018 at 10:38am

Check out Bob McDonald's Wheel Skis on this site.

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Permalink Reply by Harmen van der Velden on December 16, 2018 at 7:45pm

not giving a real answer here , but i figure that in a normal landing on pavement the skis should just , or just not, touch. Tire pressure can be varied to achieve that. Too much ski clearance results in more drag in the snow from the wheels.Skinnier tires at higher pressure result in less drag in the snow. I doubt if anyone has figured the perfect configuration

harmen

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Permalink Reply by Bob Jones on December 17, 2018 at 4:53pm

Stan, the first wheel penetration ski's i had were Schnieder Wheel ski's and they penetrated 2", they had a small wheel on the ski tail also , a rollerblade wheel , the ski bottoms were covered with black UHMW, it does'nt sun degrade as fast as white , and there were plates that could be slipped in under the wheels , by letting out air and then pumping up to hold plates down,.I sell the plans for straight ski's , they were designed years ago by Chris and he turned the project over to me , the plans are $35 and cost about $550 for all 3 , work very well on 701/750 aircraft...BOB 

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Permalink Reply by JD Houde on December 16, 2023 at 7:40am

Good morning Bob,

I own a CH 750 STOL and would like to build or buy penetrating wheel skis.

Do you have pictures or videos of the skis on a 750 STOL?

Did you modify Chris' design to make them into a penetrating ski? Would they be longer and wider than straight skis to compensate for the tire drag?

Al my ski flying has been in Super Cub, Canuck, 170B, all tail draggers and straight skis. Now based on asphalt runway with no way to get to and from hangar on straights. 

I was thinking to go Datum skis until a friend of mine who flew them on a Kitfox IV, told me the actuators were not strong enough to go from skis to wheels and ended up having toi replace one of the actuators. He now flies a Highlander and made his own penetrating skis. He is on 8.50-8's and my tires are 21" Tundra mains and 16" nose. 

I'd like to see pictures of them mounted (or not) and if it is do-able to make them into penetrating, I'd like to buy your plans for them. My Gross Weight is 1440 Lbs and my engine is the 912-is and Kaspar prop.

Thank you for any help or advise.

Thank you, 

JD Houde, Ontario, Canada

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