Penetration wheel skis

[Crosscheck]

Anyone have any experience with these? Are straight skis better? Have only found one vendor that produces these. Any info appreciated. Not looking at hydraulic type, just the type that mains penetrate through slot in ski just enough to be able to operate out of paved runways.

Thanks.

 

[88_MALIBU]

I have quite a bit of time on straight ski's. Wheel ski's are nice because of obvious reasons. I fly the Maule in my Avatar and there are no STC'd skis for it, so we use Bushwheels instead for lakes. I think if I had to choose I would go Hydro first and Wheels second. Straight ski's are way to restrictive where I fly.

 

[88_MALIBU]

By the way-

You may want to check out supercub.org.

Those guys are the people to talk to about your topic. Several are AK operators and know what works and what doesnt.

 

[A Squared]

I should prefrace this by saying that I haven't flown on wheel penetration skis, straight skis and hydraulic wheel skis, yes, but not penetration skis. But I do know a few folks who have. Anyway, when you ask "Are straight skis better?", it depends on what you mean by "better". If better means better performance off off of snow, then yes, straight skis are better. If better means having the versatility to land on snow and hard surfaces, no, wheel skis are better. I'm guessing that the vendor you refer to is Landes Airglas. They are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head who are currently producing wheel penetration skis. The Landes ski has a relatively large portion of hte tire extending below the ski bottom (compare to the no longer made Schneider benetration ski which only had enough exposed tire to roll) this tends to add drag on snow. Additionally the larger Landes penetration skis have a castering wheel (sort of a mini tail wheel) on the tail of the skis which is mounted on a spring. The prurpose if to heep the tail of the ski from dragging on hard surfaces. On snow this spring forces the little wheel into the snow like a claw, creating even more drag. The smaller Landes skis (Super Cub size) use a smaller fixed tail roller which wouldn't have nearly as much drag on snow.

A straight ski had the best takeoff performance, the best floatation, the lightest weight, and the least drag in the air.

Compared to a hydraulic wheel ski like Federal/Fuidyne/Wipaire Airglide, a wheel penetration ski will be lighter, have less drag in the air, have more floatation on snow, but have more drag on snow...and it will be a lot less expensive.

 

[hawg2hawk]

A quote from my other job a while back -- "You better hurry up and get checked out in the 185 [on hydraulic wheel skis] or you'll get stuck flying that f***ing 206 on penetration skis". This was for the Iditarod, off airport, potential exploratory landings, etc. Don't know what you'll be using yours for but I haven't heard many nice things said about penetration skis. I'm sure they're good for some applications, though, or you wouldn't see them.

A squared - NAC, or ACE?

 

[Duderino]

HUH, HUH, Penentration.

 

[A Squared]

A squared - NAC, or ACE?

ACE, though it's not called that anymore

 

[hawg2hawk]

ACE, though it's not called that anymore

Right. I still can't get used to calling everyone everts now.