2H4 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8950 posts, RR: 62 Posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 1551 times:
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Has anyone here flown an aircraft equipped with skis? How is the directional control? I would imagine it would be much more challenging to maintain centerline in a crosswind, and taxiing must also have it's share of challenges. Are there any particular methods and/or techniques employed that differ from an equivalent aircraft on wheels?
320tech From Turks and Caicos Islands, joined May 2004, 487 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 1523 times:
I have a few hours on skis. Directional control, in my experience, is not a big issue. First, if you're not using on a runway, you can take-off and land more into the wind. Even if your "runway" is narrow, you can still point the airplane somewhat into the wind, reducing the crosswind component.
Second, all the skis I've ever seen (not many) have a steel runner down the ski centreline, that helps the ski dig in. That works very well at keeping the airplane straight.
Once you get used to the idea of having no brakes, it's not much different from wheels. Taxiing is no problem, but you have to be a bit careful going over the ridges and bumps in the snow.
Not having flown floats, I don't want to speculate on the comparison.
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CanadianNorth From Canada, joined Aug 2002, 3371 posts, RR: 10 Reply 3, posted (6 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 1453 times:
From what I can tell its the same idea as a snowmobile. The wheel that would normally turn the aircraft on the ground still turns, so that ski turns the aircraft. On the ski I'd imagine its the same deal as a snowmobile, having some sort of metal runner that digs into the snow and some ice, pushing the ski around the corner, and bringing the attached aircraft with it.
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