Looks like we're in for it...

Since we moved to Iowa in '97, getting a "White Christmas" has always been a
dicey affair. Regular warm(ish) weather fronts and little snow has pretty
much been the rule, and we often had a "brown Christmas" -- much to the
dismay of my kids.

This year is looking dramatically different. We've already had temperatures
below zero throughout the Midwest, we've already had two significant
snowfalls -- with more predicted for today -- and it's not even technically
"winter" yet...

Snowmobilers, skiers, and kids are ecstatic -- and that ski-plane conversion
kit isn't looking so silly, either!

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:
Since we moved to Iowa in '97, getting a "White Christmas" has always been a
dicey affair. Regular warm(ish) weather fronts and little snow has pretty
much been the rule, and we often had a "brown Christmas" -- much to the
dismay of my kids.

This year is looking dramatically different. We've already had temperatures
below zero throughout the Midwest, we've already had two significant
snowfalls -- with more predicted for today -- and it's not even technically
"winter" yet...

Snowmobilers, skiers, and kids are ecstatic -- and that ski-plane conversion
kit isn't looking so silly, either!

Is a ski-plane covered under ASES or ASEL?

Stubby,

Skiplanes are land planes (ASEL or AME), no additional rating is
required to fly on skis, although there are enough things that can go
wrong that a good checkout is wise.

All the best,
Rick

wrote in message
oups.com...
Stubby,

Skiplanes are land planes (ASEL or AME), no additional rating is
required to fly on skis, although there are enough things that can go
wrong that a good checkout is wise.

All the best,
Rick


It always seemed odd to me that skis do not require at least an endorsement.
There is infinately more variability in snow than in water..

Mike
MU-2

Mike wrote:
It always seemed odd to me that skis do not require at least an endorsement.
There is infinately more variability in snow than in water..

How do they(skiplanes and amphips) stop w/o breaks? Do they just wait
until the momentum is used up?

You're not thinking about putting the Mit on skis are you Mike?

"Flyingmonk" wrote in message
ups.com...
Mike wrote:
It always seemed odd to me that skis do not require at least an
endorsement.
There is infinately more variability in snow than in water..

How do they(skiplanes and amphips) stop w/o breaks? Do they just wait
until the momentum is used up?

You're not thinking about putting the Mit on skis are you Mike?


I've thought about skis for the Helio but, during the portion of the year
when the skis would be useful, the weather poor aroung here with a lot of
icing.

Mike
MU-2

Flyingmonk wrote:

How do they(skiplanes and amphips) stop w/o breaks?

Well, some of them do break.

Do they just wait
until the momentum is used up?

Oh. You meant *brakes*. Yeah, you have to plan ahead and coast to a stop.

George Patterson
Coffee is only a way of stealing time that should by rights belong to
your slightly older self.

"Mike Rapoport" wrote in message
ink.net...
It always seemed odd to me that skis do not require at least an
endorsement. There is infinately more variability in snow than in water..

Granted, not having flown a skiplane I admit I only know half the equation.
However, it would surprise me if snow is even significantly more variable
than water, never mind "infinitely".

The extremely wide variety of landing conditions water presents is one of
the primary challenges of flying seaplanes.

Whether skiplanes should require their own rating or not, that's a different
issue. But I am inclined to disagree with any implication that skiplanes
are somehow MORE challenging than seaplanes.

Pete

Snow can go from hard enought to drive oil rig over to soft enough to sink
up to your waist with snowshoes on. The density can vary by a factor of
almost 100. The coefficient of friction can also vary greatly. It is
opaque and can hide obstacles better than water. Finally, it can overlay
water and if you land on it, you are stuck until spring when your airplane
may sink to the bottom of the lake! Read some books on bush flying to
visualize the challenges that ski operations can present..

Mike
MU-2


"Peter Duniho" wrote in message
...
"Mike Rapoport" wrote in message
ink.net...
It always seemed odd to me that skis do not require at least an
endorsement. There is infinately more variability in snow than in water..

Granted, not having flown a skiplane I admit I only know half the
equation. However, it would surprise me if snow is even significantly more
variable than water, never mind "infinitely".

The extremely wide variety of landing conditions water presents is one of
the primary challenges of flying seaplanes.

Whether skiplanes should require their own rating or not, that's a
different issue. But I am inclined to disagree with any implication that
skiplanes are somehow MORE challenging than seaplanes.

Pete

"Mike Rapoport" wrote in message
ink.net...

wrote in message
oups.com...
Stubby,

Skiplanes are land planes (ASEL or AME), no additional rating is
required to fly on skis, although there are enough things that can go
wrong that a good checkout is wise.

All the best,
Rick


It always seemed odd to me that skis do not require at least an
endorsement. There is infinately more variability in snow than in water..

Mike
MU-2


Years ago when working off my lessons, a couple of Cubs on skis came in. The
pilots got out and started pushing them back and forth????

Being the curious student I asked what that was all about.
Seems there is a good amount of friction between the skis and snow/ice
during landing & taxi.
Ahhh Sooo! :-)

Marty