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Ski Flying "Humble Pie"
This is a picture from happier days...last winter (2010). This winter the snows came late but were heavier with dry deep powder. Kim (wife) and I flew last weekend... it took full power to taxi and about 1/3 of the runway to get airborne. Last week we had 2 heavy snow falls and high winds to form drifts at the airfield. Today as I headed out taxiing to the runway... full power...pull back on the stick and the nose ski lifted. I was almost flying on the taxiway. As I turned to taxi down wind from mid-field I cut across tracks made by a Quad City Challenger..."CRAP"!!! My skis went from nose up attitude (sinking about axle deep in waist deep powder) to downward pointing nose planes on a submarine! I chopped the throttle and killed the engine as C-IKIM dove submerging to the belly skins in a giant snow drift that had formed between me and the runway. (Note to self : Buy a small snow shovel for the CH750) . All my buddies were gone flying already leaving me with the daunting snow job. A quick cell phone call and my long suffering wife Kim arrived with shovels. While I shoveled the prop clear of snow she packed a path out of the drift to the runway with the snowshoes I always carry in the aircraft during the winter. Once I cleared to prop arc of snow and Kim had worked her magic packing a path out of the drift. I warmed the engine to operating temps...full power would be required. A blast of full throttle with the stick full back lifted the nose ski and my CH750 powered out of the drift to the main runway and then back to the hangar. (Note to self : Always wear snow pants to keep dry when wading around in deep snow) The 72" WARP prop showed no damage from the deep powder snow, the slipper clutch on the Rotax 912S functioned to prevent any engine damage... the pilot dumping the throttle and killing the ignition deserves some credit, but then again he is the fool who blundered into the huge snow drift. Humble Pie is best served in the safety of the hangar (beside the wood stove) with a cold beer :>)
Albums: Around "The Patch"
Location: Ontario, Canada
Comment
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Comment by Bob McDonald on January 22, 2012 at 3:17pm
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Its been -22C here the last 2 weeks, warming up to -12C long enough to snow some more. Ski flying in the winter offers a freedom from airport to airport operations. Every field, frozen lake or river is a potential landing spot.... hot dogs & chilli by the ice fishing hole + airplanes on skis. "Cool stuff" ;>)
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Comment by Mike Hammond on January 21, 2012 at 7:33pm
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Glad all is well. I admire you floppy headed chaps for having the courage and desire to actually go outside in that kind of weather. If it gets much below freezing here I get depressed and tend to not venture out very much. Cold weather did not bother me when I was younger, but now days my poor little fingers and toes feel like they are going to fall off when it gets cold.
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Comment by Mark Maltais on January 21, 2012 at 5:53pm
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EGADS!! Glad there was no damage! Bet that beer was tasty!
How well do the skis actually work in the loose powder? Are they a decent size? Would it be an issue landing on a frozen lake or are they more designed landing on a packed trail/runways? I remember being in an old Cub my buddy had and that thing would plow through pretty much anything but his skis looked a lot bigger than the ones in your photo, but then again a taildragger would have an advantage!
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Comment by Brian Parsons on January 21, 2012 at 5:35pm
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Hey Ballast Bob
I must admit I don't miss the snow. Nice to be able to land on the frozen lakes without the ski's. Glad to hear you came out of the drift OK. Remember, shoveling at your age!!! (smile)
78 hours on the ULPower and I like it more and more. FYI, it was 6 hours flight time to NS in the 701 over the great state of Maine from Ontario. Thanks again for all your help and I think we are over due for a beer.
Brian
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