Thread: Snow skis and winter flying

Has anyone installed or know of others installing snow skis on a CT?

Got any winter flying hints?

I don't think so. Looks like you might be the first. Don't forget to toss in a grappling hook to stop before the end of the runway.
How do they slow planes down on ski's? Must be some kind of device that they can apply pressure to and drag in the snow from the ski area? Living in Tucson, Az. I never gave it much thought about stopping on ski's.
You will need to clear this with FD USA and get approval. That might take more time than there is time left in winter.

You stop on snow the same way you stop on floats in the water - drag.

If you are running out of runway, hopefully you have slowed down enough to start a turn, which will slow you down.

Unless you have a turbine engine and can reverse the prop

I lived and flew in Alaska for about 40 years. Some of that was on skiis. Basically, you pick areas you know you can stop such as on a lake. After practice, you know what your plane will do. Different kinds of snow give different performance. Also uphill/downhill makes a difference. Some planes have no tail ski so a little back stick will slow you down as you dig the tailwheel in.

Othert han floats, ski flying in the backcountry is about as good as it gets since the whole world is yours to land on - if you have the nerve and the skills.

I have done float flying and can see the drag, but snow doesn't seem to have the same drag coefficient. I guess I'll never know in Tucson.

we have more problem going than stopping. we got a 172 out of here last year buy using cross country ski wax ( glide ) on his skis.

i had skis on my challenger and it is really fun, i would like a set of compound skis for my ctsw.

There is (was) a CT in London, Ontario on skis. Also in Norway/ Sweden area

I will never put skis on my CT because the nose wheel system is too fragile. To use the [nose]skis, one would need a well prepared (with a snowmobile) surface or a hard surface like ice or packed snow.

I have used other (typical) planes [front engine/nose wheel] on skis and you need to be VERY carefull where you land and takeoff. High crosswinds taxiing is also hard on the gear legs.

I was thinking to use Full Lotus floats for snow operation (did it alot on other planes) but that makes expensive skis and it is harder to maneuver (parking , in/out hangar)

To me skis are for tail wheel or nose wheel/pusher engine airplanes.

Next winter, I plan to park my CT at an paved airport because almost 6 months without it is getting frustating

thanks , there is this forum and I can still fly 'virtually'

Charlie Tango is right about the going part. I've had a Beaver on skiis stuck and the only thing that solved that problem was alot of digging and pushing by the 4 passengers I had. Sometimes you get stuck and you are sitting on top of the snow not even looking stuck. This can be due to the heat generated by the skiis on landing then cooling off and freezing to the surface. You only do that about once then you learn to take the extra steps to avoid it. Unless you get off on doing extra work!!